BEIJING: China on Monday lodged a strong protest over a Japanese minister's visit to Taiwan, the first such visit since 1972, accusing Japan of provoking trouble and "double-dealing" on the Taiwan issue Taking exception to deputy Japanese minister Jiro Akama 's visit to Taiwan to attend a tourism promotion event over the weekend, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the visit violates Japan's pledge to only have people-to-people and region-to-region exchanges with Taiwan Hua said China firmly opposed the visit and lodged a solemn representation to Japan over the issue.China claims the breakaway province of Taiwan as part of its mainland and vociferously protests any foreign governments dealing with the self-governing island.She accused Japan of double-dealing by saying one thing and doing another."Since the start of this year, Japan keeps talking about committing to its pledges but if we watch its moves it keeps provoking troubles. This has caused severe disruption to the improvement of bilateral relations," she said."The Taiwan question bears on China's core interests and brooks no challenge. Hope Japan realises the seriousness of the matter and stop double-dealing and going down the erroneous path," she said.She also chastised Japan for claiming the disputed islands in the text books circulated for schools.The text books refer the Diaoyu islands (called as Senkakus by Japan) claims as Japanese territory, Hua said replying a question."The Diaoyu islands and affiliated islands are China's inherent territory. We are resolute in maintaining and safeguarding our sovereignty," she said, adding that Japanese claim will not change facts."Japan should respect the history and fact and educate young people with right history and stop stirring trouble on the relevant issue," she said.While the islands and waters, believed to contain rich deposits of oil and minerals, are in the administrative control of Japan, China which has stepped up its claims since 2012 increased naval patrols around the islands and its ships often jostle with Japanese coast guard vessels.