China's Foreign Ministry says it has called on Japan to conduct a fair investigation into a Chinese man who was arrested over a graffiti case at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.

The shrine honors Japan's war dead. Those remembered include leaders convicted of war crimes after World War Two.

The graffiti was found on a stone pillar at the shrine's entrance on June 1. The word "toilet" had been spray-painted in red.

Police arrested the Chinese man, who was found to have bought a paint spray can, on suspicion of damaging property and desecrating a place of worship. They put on a wanted list two other Chinese men they believe are possible perpetrators.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian was asked at a news conference on Wednesday whether the Chinese side will cooperate in a Japanese investigation over the two on the wanted list. He declined to comment.

Lin did say, however, that officials from the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo had met with the arrested man, and that Beijing had asked Japan to conduct a fair investigation based on the law.

The spokesperson said the ministry calls on Chinese citizens in foreign countries to comply with local laws and regulations and express their complaints rationally.