IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Beijing

Armed forces to safeguard islands

Chinese armed forces will firmly safeguard the country's sovereignty and security interests, the Ministry of National Defense said on Friday. The ministry was responding to reports from the Japanese media that the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force will be sent to urge Chinese ships to leave if they come within 12 nautical miles of Diaoyu Island. Diaoyu Island and affiliated islands have been China' s inherent territory since ancient times, and China has the right to patrol its territorial waters, the ministry said.