Stay off disputed islands, China warns Japan

Chinese military on Tuesday asked Japan to "stop activities" around the contested islands in the East China Sea, warning that Beijing has the "capability and determination" to safeguard its territorial sovereignty.

Asserting that the disputed islands, which China calls Diaoyu and Japan refers as Senkakus, are inherent territories, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told reporters that "what is important now is for Japan to stop activities that undermine China's territorial sovereignty and take actions to ensure the issue resolved".

"The Chinese government and the armed forces are capable and determined to safeguard the sovereignty of the islands," Yang said while replying to a question about China stepping up patrols in the island waters since last year challenging the Japanese authority over them.

On China's maritime disputes in the South China Sea with a host of south-east Asian countries, Yang said criticised the emerging military alliances between US and various countries including Vietnam and the Philippines.

Certain efforts made to highlight military agenda to enhance deployment and to strengthen military alliances in the region are not in line with calling of times and not conducive to upholding peace and stability in the region, he said.

Asked whether China would resort to deploy its forces abroad to protect its interests the participation of Chinese military in any campaign overseas would not be for increasing the military presence abroad and even less for seeking hegemony.

He also said China has not set up any military bases abroad so far.

About tensions in the Korean peninsula, he reiterated the earlier stand that China has not deployed any troops at the North Korean border. "Such reports are not true," Yang said.

Reports in foreign media earlier this month alleged that China was bulking up its military presence on the DPRK border amid an escalation in tensions in the region.

China is paying close attention to the development of the current situation on the KoreanPeninsula and will remain committed to safeguarding peace and stability in Northeast Asia, Yang said.

China is committed to maintaining peace and stability, advancing the KoreanPeninsula's denuclearisation, and addressing and settling the problem through dialogue, he said.