Military leaders meet Panetta and urge Washington not to take sidesChina told Japan and the United States on Tuesday that it hopes the Diaoyu Islands issue can be resolved peacefully but Beijing reserves the right to "take further action".
Top military officials made the comments during a meeting with US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. The Pentagon chief is visiting China for the first time.
Defense Minister Liang Guanglie, during a joint news briefing with Panetta, said China urged Washington to honor its promise of not taking sides.
Panetta arrived in Beijing on Monday evening following a visit to Japan. His visit to Beijing, including talks with senior military and government leaders, has coincided with an eruption in tension between China and Japan over the islands, which have belonged to China for centuries.
Tokyo said it completed a "purchase" of the islands last week.
The move has sparked protests across China. Analysts said if Washington continues its stance by further encouraging Tokyo's provocations, Panetta's "mediation" will hardly ease the situation.
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