BEIJING - China on Monday reiterated that it holds a "firm and unwavering" determination in safeguarding its sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands.

"Our stance is very clear on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands that have been an inherent part of China since ancient times," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a regular news briefing.

Liu made the remarks in response to media reports that Japan plans to name some remote islets, including some near the Diaoyu Islands, in a bid to bolster its territorial claim to the region.