BEIJING - China reaffirmed its position on the Diaoyu Islands Wednesday, saying that any move by Japan against China's sovereignty over the islands was "illegal and invalid."

"China's indisputable sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands has been inherent since ancient times," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement.

Media reports said a fishing boat from Taiwan was disturbed Wednesday morning by the Japanese Coast Guard while sailing around Diaoyu Islands.