The United States should not be "hijacked by Tokyo's right-leaning politicians" over some disputed islands in the East China Sea, the official Xinhua news agency warned in a commentary on Saturday coinciding with a visit to Washington by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Japanese politicians "could begin by admitting the existence of such a dispute with China over the islands, which Japan stole from China during the 1890s," Xinhua wrote.
"Chinese people long for peace, but will not be intimidated by the threat of force and tough rhetoric when it comes to the country's core interests."
According to Xinhua, Abe had underestimated China's determination to protect its territorial integrity and should "calm down."
Abe on Friday had in turn warned China not to underestimate Japanese resolve, saying he had told US President Barack Obama that his country would show restraint.
Japan has also asked the Chinese government to explain why Chinese coastguard have placed buoys that might be used to monitor the presence of submarines around the islands.
Japan's purchase of the disputed islets in mid-September sparked protests in dozens of Chinese cities and a boycott of Japanese products.
The Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands, which China calls Diaoyu, are also claimed by Taiwan, which refers to them as Tiaoyutai.