evidence: In 1992, China enacted the "Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone". Article 2 of the law reads: The PRC’s territorial land includes the mainland and its offshore islands, Taiwan and the various affiliated islands, including Diaoyu Islands, Penghu (Pescadores) Islands, Dongsha (Pratas) Islands, Xisha (Paracels) Islands, Nansha (Spratly) Islands and other islands that belong to the People's Republic of China.[iii] This law is the basis on which China is asserting claims in the East China Sea and the South China Sea over the last three decades. In 2009, China passed the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Offshore Islands", which was adopted at the 12th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eleventh National People's Congress on 26 December 2009.[iv] On 10 September 2012, the Chinese government issued a statement announcing the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Diaoyu and its affiliated islands of China.[v] In 2012, China published a White Paper titled "Diaoyu Dao, an Inherent Territory of China". The paper argues that the Diaoyu/ Senkaku Islands have been an inseparable part of China since the ancient times. China believes that Japan should stop all activities in the region. It further stated that (China) has the capability and confidence to defend its territory sovereignty.[vi]