Dastyari rejects cash for comment claims

Embattled Labor frontbencher Sam Dastyari has rejected assertions he was involved in a "cash for comment" arrangement with Chinese donors.

"I completely reject an assertion or implication that .. any of my comments or decisions have been influenced by anything other than the national interest," he told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

Senator Dastyari is under pressure over the payment of a personal debt by a Chinese company linked to Beijing, and making public comments about the South China Sea contrary to Labor's position on the dispute.

He had not offered his resignation to Labor leader Bill Shorten.

"And I haven't been asked."

Labor's consumer affairs spokesman and manager of opposition business in the Senate said he regretted his actions.

"I acted first and thought later. The lesson for me out of this is to stop, think and actually reflect first before acting."