31.   But it claims the island as a renegade province and does not recognize it as a separate government.

32.   China also claims the islands, located amid rich fishing grounds and what are believed to be potentially lucrative natural gas deposits.

33.   China and Taiwan, which also claims the islands, have both lodged protests.

34.   China claims the island as a breakaway province, and demands that countries seeking diplomatic ties with it first sever formal relations with Taiwan.

35.   China claims the island as its territory and fears that Washington is impeding unification by providing arms to Taiwan.

36.   China claims the island, a Cold War ally of the United States, as a rebel province.

37.   China and Taiwan, which Beijing regards as its territory, also claim the islands.

38.   China continues to claim the island as a renegade province to be recaptured by force if necessary.

39.   China and Taiwan also claim the islands.

40.   China claims the island a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland by force, if necessary.