BEIJING -- People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share responsibility for safeguarding the country's sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters, a mainland spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remark at a routine press conference, adding that China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and its adjacent waters.

She responded to a reporter's question that it's a good idea for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to conduct joint development of the South China Sea.

Fan also said the Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated isles are the inherent territory of China and both sides of the Taiwan Strait bear responsibility for protecting them.