Japan's unilateral actions on the Diaoyu Islands are "illegal and invalid," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said here Wednesday.

The Japanese government has reportedly taken over a lighthouse built by a Japanese right-wing group on the islands, claiming that the lighthouse would be protected as Japan's state property.

Kong said the Diaoyu Islands and neighboring islands have been China's territory since ancient times, and any unilateral actions taken by Japan are illegal and invalid.

Source: Xinhua