Japan told to keep away from Diaoyu

China has urged Japan to stop violating the country's sovereignty over Diaoyu Islands by anchoring vessels near them, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said yesterday.

"Any move by Japan to control the islands is violating China's sovereignty over its territory, (it) is illegal ..." Jiang Yu told a regular briefing. "(Japan) should stop it immediately."

China's sovereignty over the islands is "beyond question", she said.