BEIJING -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson said Wednesday that public service vessels from the mainland will be ready to offer help to both mainland and Taiwanese fishermen operating in waters around the Diaoyu Islands.

Fishermen from the mainland and Taiwan have the right to fish in the waters around the Diaoyu Islands, Fan Liqing, spokeswoman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press briefing.

Public service vessels from the mainland have conducted patrols in the waters and will continue to do so in order to enforce relevant laws, protect legal fishing activities and safeguard China's sovereignty, she said when asked if the mainland would protect Taiwanese fishermen near the islands.

A total of 75 fishing boats from Taiwan sailed to the Diaoyu Islands on Monday afternoon to signal fishing rights in nearby waters and protest Japan's "purchase" of part of the Diaoyu Islands.

The Diaoyu Islands and affiliated islets are part of China's inherent territory, Fan said.

"It is the unshakable duty and shared responsibility of compatriots across the strait to safeguard China's sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islets, as well as the interests of the entire nation," she said.

Chinese across the Taiwan Strait have expressed strong opposition against Japan's "purchase" of part of the Diaoyu Islands, she said.

"The key to the issue is that the Japanese side should take concrete actions to correct the mistakes," she said.

Measures taken by the mainland and Taiwan to safeguard the interests of the nation will be firmly supported by all Chinese, she said.