The International Herald Leader published an article by Lin Xiaoguang, a professor at the CCP Central Party School, stating that in the past China has been soft in claiming sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands (called the Senkaku Islands in Japan), but that it is now time to include its claim in its formal diplomatic agenda with Japan. Lin argued that China’s former strategy of “putting aside disputes and jointly developing” didn’t work. Taking the issue to international court won’t work either. So the best way is to include it in the Sino-Japan East Sea Diplomatic Discussion. This will restrict Japan from taking actual control of the island on its own, and will also avoid the shocking effect on the Sino-Japan relationship from any emergent incident.
Source: International Herald Leader, September 20, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-09/20/c_13521094.htm