China expects the United States to put a lid on it and do nothing even as it restated its illegal claim to own the Senkaku Islands belonging to Japan.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reasserted China's claim of sovereignty over the minuscule Japanese-controlled and uninhabited islands located southwest of Okinawa in the East China Sea. It also blasted the United States for putting regional stability in East Asia at risk by supporting Japan's claim to the Senkakus, which Japan has declared part of the city of Ishigaki in Okinawa.

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China's vitriol was directed at U.S. Secretary of State James Mattis who reaffirmed that America's commitment to defend Japanese territory also applied to the Senkakus. China demanded the U.S. avoid discussion of the issue.

It also raged against the "Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America" signed in 1960, blasting it as "a product of the Cold War, which should not impair China's territorial sovereignty and legitimate rights."

"We urge the US side to take a responsible attitude, stop making wrong remarks on the issue involving the Diaoyu islands' sovereignty, and avoid making the issue more complicated and bringing instability to the regional situation," according to a statement read by the foreign ministry spokesman.

China cites historical records for its claim to the Senkakus. Japan, however, had ownership of the Senkakus from 1895 until its surrender in World War II.

The U.S. administered the Senkakus as part of the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands from 1945 until 1972, when the islands returned to Japanese control under the Okinawa Reversion Agreement between the United States and Japan.

Taiwan, however, also claims ownership of the Senkakus.

China also criticized Mattis for reaffirming U.S. support for the deployment of the first of two Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems to South Korea in May.

Tagschina, United States, Senkaku Islands, Japan, Secretary of State James Mattis