China's fourth-highest ranking official has urged Japan to stay away from South China Sea disputes and thereby help improve bilateral relations.
The issues have "nothing to do with Japan," Yu Zhengsheng was quoted as saying in a meeting Monday with a group of Diet members visiting Beijing.
According to a member of the delegation from the Liberal Democratic Party, Yu said "it is not fair" that Japan, along with the United States, only criticizes China but not the Philippines and other Asian claimants.