China takes aim at Japan over island dispute

UNITED NATIONS China accuses Japan of "grossly violating" Chinese sovereignty by its purchase of some islands in a dispute that has sparked violent anti-Japan protests in China.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi pronounced the moves by Japan as "totally illegal and invalid" during a speech late Thursday at the U.N. General Assembly.

He said, "China strongly urges Japan to immediately stop all activities that violate China's territorial sovereignty" and take concrete actions to correct its "mistakes."

The spat over the islands, called Diaoyu by China and Senakaku by Japan, has raised tensions between them to their highest in years.

Japan's government says the island purchase, from a private Japanese citizen this month, was intended to help manage the dispute.

Japan administers the islands, and like China, is adamant they are its territory.