A group of Hong Kong activists engaged in the Diaoyu Islands dispute sailed to "fish" in the Nansha Islands on Wednesday, causing quite a stir among some media outlets which believed the activists would actually go to the Diaoyu Islands. Nonetheless, the group was intercepted by Hong Kong marine officers just two hours after departure.

Since 1971 when more than 2,000 students from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan launched the first protest to "defend the Diaoyu Islands" in front of the UN headquarters, Hong Kong non-governmental groups have been playing an active role by conveying the message that the islands belong to China and that the central government is unswerving in safeguarding their territorial sovereignty.

The most fruitful demonstration took place in early October in 1996 when Hong Kong and Taiwan activists made a successful landing on the islands in joint efforts, displaying the willpower and determination of the Chinese people to defend the territory and arousing a sense of responsibility in overseas Chinese to protect sovereignty.

But the activists must recognize that non-governmental movements are backed by the comprehensive power of a nation. They could make it safe and Japanese patrol vessels fired only water cannons at them instead of real ones due to China's growing strength.

From a diplomatic perspective, Hong Kong activists' assertion of China's sovereignty over the islands is tied to Sino-Japanese relations. Their campaign efforts will get the best outcome with the full support of the central government.

The non-governmental groups based in Hong Kong have scored remarkable achievements so far. And in the past year, Beijing and Tokyo intensified contention over the jurisdiction over the waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands. Patrols by Chinese marine surveillance ships around the islands have dealt a heavy blow to Japan's attempt to press their claims. At the moment it is actually not necessary for the activists to proclaim national sovereignty over the islands by sailing or landing there.

On the other hand, marine authorities from China and Japan are wrestling with each other in the surrounding waters around the Islands. Due to these escalating conflicts, the activist groups are thus confronting increasing dangers in campaigning for sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. It would be tragic to see any casualties or even calamitous loss of life.

The US is the initiator of the Diaoyu Islands issue. When Washington handed back the sovereignty of Okinawa to Tokyo in 1972, it also gave Tokyo the administrative jurisdiction of the Diaoyu Islands, completely neglecting Beijing's objection. The US still plays a key role in the Diaoyu Islands issue.

The Hong Kong-based activists need to adjust their role, and focus on showing the world the Diaoyu Islands belong to China. They can pressurize the US government and congressmen to ask Japan to soften their attitude toward the sovereignty of the islands.

The author is a Hong Kong-based journalist. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn