China is firmly opposed to the US' stance that the Diaoyu Islands fall within the scope of the US-Japan security treaty, under which Washington would provide assistance if Tokyo's territories came under an armed attack, a senior Chinese military official told his US counterparts on Friday.

The Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islands are a part of China's inherent territory, said Cai Yingting, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. All of the recent illegal activities by the Japanese, including a bid to "purchase" the Diaoyu Islands and the decision by right-wing activists to land on the islands, are completely invalid, Cai said.

During meetings with senior US military and government officials, including US Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, Cai said China is firmly opposed to the US stance that the Diaoyu Islands fall within the scope of the 1960 US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, under which Washington will provide assistance to Tokyo when the territories under Japan's administration are attacked.