Chinese and Japanese diplomatic officials have failed to narrow their differences over a sovereignty dispute surrounding a group of islands in the East China Sea.

During meetings in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday, China demanded that Japan withdraw its decision to nationalize the islands, which are called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. China explained that the Chinese government will make no change in its position that it has sovereignty over the islands.

Japan said that it will not strengthen its effective control of the islands any further, asking China to respond calmly over the situation.