China on Friday urged Japan to show sincerity in mending bilateral ties in response to a recent statement by a senior Japanese official calling on Japan to take an attitude of "strategic patience" on ties with China.

According to media reports, Japan's prime minister's key foreign policy advisor Shotaro Yachi said in a speech on Monday that strategic patience means Japan "will refrain from responding emotionally" to the so-called "provocations" by China on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands.

"Who is making provocations on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands? I think the justice is in everyone's hearts," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a daily news briefing.

No matter how Japan changes its propaganda, the basic fact that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China cannot be changed, said Hong.

"Should the Japanese side really want to ease up the current bilateral ties, it should correct its attitude and show sincerity in solving the problem," Hong said.