BEIJING- The Chinese Foreign Ministry has launched a solemn representation over new textbooks in Japan claiming that the Diaoyu Islands belong to Japan, said spokesperson Jiang Yu on Thursday.

Related readings: Japan approves problematic textbooks

"The Diaoyu Islands and adjacent islets have been an inherent territory of China since ancient times, over which China has indisputable sovereignty. Any words and deeds that attempt to change this fact are futile," Jiang said when commenting on the Japanese Education Ministry's approval of the textbooks.

The Japanese Education Ministry said on Wednesday that it had approved the new textbooks for junior high school students. All seven civics textbooks teach that China's Diaoyu Islands belong to Japan.