China dismisses Japanese media reports on sea disputes

Japan has made clear to China that Japanese media's reports about Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida's remarks on East China Sea and South China Sea did not represent official position, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

According to a report from Japan's Sankei Shimbun newspaper, Kishida would express apparent objection to China's activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea during his visit to China from Friday to Sunday.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying said China's activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea are lawful and legitimate, and China has made solemn representations to the Japanese side over the issue.

Japan has clarified that relevant media reports did not represent its official position, said Hua.

Kishida's three-day trip, the first by a Japanese foreign minister in four and a half years, will see a meeting on Saturday between Kishida and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. Endi