China urges Japan to be cautious on South, East China Sea comments

BEIJING - China on Tuesday urged Japan to be cautious with its comments on the South China Sea and East China Sea.

Japan should do more to enhance mutual trust with neighboring countries and promote regional stability, instead of sowing discord, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei at a routine press briefing.

Hong made the remarks while commenting on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's latest interview with the Financial Times, in which he voiced Japan's concerns about China's construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea and exploitation of oil and gas in the East China Sea, demanding that the international community raises its voice against it.

China's exploitation of oil and gas in the East China Sea has occurred in waters within its jurisdiction, which is within China's sovereignty rights, Hong said.

China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and adjacent waters. Construction on the islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands falls within China's sovereignty, which is legitimate and reasonable, he added.

Hong noted that Japan illegally occupied Chinese islands in the South China Sea during WWII, and the islands were taken back by China after the end of the war. Japan should bear in mind the history of invasion and deeply reflect on what it did during the war.

Hong added that China remains on high alert to Japan's interventions in South China Sea affairs.