Panetta: US could be dragged into East China Sea dispute

China's leader-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, has said that Japan should "rein in its behaviour" and stop undermining Chinese sovereignty, state media has reported.

Mr Xi made the remarks during a meeting with US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta who is currently in Beijing as part of a regional tour.

The talks marked Mr Xi's first official meeting since he went missing two weeks ago without further explanation.

His disappearance fuelled widespread rumours over his health and a political struggle.

But Mr Panetta told the BBC that Mr Xi appeared "in good shape".