BEIJING - China on Thursday responded to remarks of Japan's defense minister by urging Japan to refrain from stirring up trouble in the South China Sea.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang was asked to comment on Tomomi Inada's recent remarks that for Japan, safeguarding the South China Sea concerns safeguarding the East China Sea.

Inada was quoted by the "Asahi Shimbun" as having said that ASEAN defense ministers believed what happened in the South China Sea would happen in the East China Sea.

Geng said ASEAN states could speak for themselves on the South China Sea issue, noting that Japan is not an ASEAN mouthpiece.

"We urge Japan, as an outsider, to learn from the past, not to undermine regional efforts to safegurd peace and stability on the South China Sea, and not to stir up enmity," he said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak both visited China recently, and exchanged views with Chinese leaders on the issue, Geng said. "We have our own view of the ASEAN attitude on this issue," he added.

Together China and ASEAN countries are moving the South China Sea situation in the positive direction, Geng said.