China's reaction came after Japan Tuesday stated that it was considering a move to station government workers on the disputed group of islands, known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and the Diaoyu islands in China.

"The Chinese government has an unshakeable resolve and determination to protect the country's territorial sovereignty and will not tolerate any provocative acts of escalation over China's sovereignty," the Global Times quoted Hong Lei, spokesman of the Chinese foreign ministry, as saying.” If the Japanese side recklessly makes provocative moves, it will have to accept the consequences," Hong said.