Japan must stop infringing upon Chinese territorial sovereignty, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense said on Tuesday.

Yang Yujun also urged Japan to make concrete efforts to properly handle issues related to the Diaoyu Islands.

The Diaoyu Island and their affiliated islets have been inherent part of China's territory since ancient times. The Chinese government and armed forces are determined and able to safeguard China's sovereignty over the islands, Yang told a press conference upon the release of white paper "The Diversified Employment of China's Armed Forces."

China has always advocated peaceful ways as well as dialogue and consultations to settle territorial disputes, according to the spokesman, when responding a reporter's question concerning the Diaoyu Islands.

When asked about the navy's role in safeguarding China's maritime rights and interests, Yang said the navy has established mechanisms of regular combat readiness patrols in relevant sea areas, coordinating and cooperating with law-enforcement organs.

In combination with its routine combat readiness activities, the People's Liberation Army Navy provides security support for maritime law enforcement, fisheries, and oil and gas exploitation, he added.

China is a major maritime as well as land country. It is an essential national development strategy to exploit, utilize and protect the seas and oceans, and build China into a maritime power, Yang said.

Safeguarding China's maritime rights and interests is both an important duty of the armed forces and a necessity of dealing with threats to the national security, he said.

About the role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in China's national defense system, Yang said the country's use of new high-tech weapons "will not pose threats to any other country."

UAVs are deployed and used in the armed forces of many countries. The purpose of China to develop weapons and equipment is to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and national security as well as promote world peace, he said.