HANOI, Oct 30, 2010 (AFP) - China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Saturday called on the United States to be "cautious" when discussing the disputed East China Sea islands that have triggered a feud with Japan.
The comments -- made to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during talks in Vietnam's capital -- came after she told an Asian summit that maritime rows should be settled by international law.
China wants to handle such disputes bilaterally with its neighbours, a forum in which it has more clout.
Clinton's comments came amid a serious dispute between China and Japan triggered by the September 8 arrest of a Chinese trawler captain near disputed East China Sea islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.
"Yang underlined China's solemn position on the issue of the Diaoyu islands, calling on the United States to be cautious on this highly sensitive issue," the Chinese foreign ministry said on its website.
The minister also urged Clinton to "respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to not make irresponsible remarks."
