Fan Liqing, spokeswoman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Protecting sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands is in the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Fan Liqing, spokeswoman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a press conference Wednesday.

"It's also in the long-term and fundamental interests of the Chinese nation," she said in response to a question regarding civilian activities in Taiwan to safeguard the Diaoyu Islands.