Obama restates support for Japan in island dispute

US President Barack Obama has restated his support for Japan in its dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea.

Speaking at a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Mr Obama said he was bound to honour a security treaty between the US and Japan, but urged all parties to resolve the dispute peacefully.

"It would be a profound mistake to continue to see escalation around this issue rather than dialogue," he added.