China's defense ministry has slammed a Japanese defense ministry has warned rising tensions in the East and South China Seas as certain countries continue dispatching ships and aircraft to the region to "show off their military force for self-interest.”
The warning comes after Japanese defense ministry published an annual report in which it highlights what it refers to as “Chinese threats.”
Chinese ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei has criticized the annual report saying the actions have seriously aggravated regional tensions.
Tan said Japan's annual defense paper projected a "wrong perception" of China, and "deliberately exaggerates the so-called Chinese military threat".
“China has lodged stern representations to Tokyo, expressing resolute opposition to the paper”, he said.
He also marked that Japan has continuously interfered in China's internal affairs, violated international relations norms, undermined the foundation of Sino-Japanese relations and aggravated the situation in the Taiwan Strait.
Japan released its annual defense paper last week accusing China to be threat to the region, offering an assessment of Beijing’s security alliance with Moscow.
China and Russia concluded a 4-day joint aerial and naval exercise on Monday as the US, Japan and South Korea continue to expand their military ties.
Chinese Defense Ministry said on Sunday that the two countries wrapped up their joint air and naval drills in the Sea of Japan aimed at safeguarding security in the international waterways.
The joint drills by China a Russia came shortly after Washington declared last month the national security advisers for the US, Japan and South Korea had discussed ways to expand trilateral security cooperation to maintain order and stability in the Taiwan Strait and coordination over the East China and South China Seas.
This is while Beijing has warned Tokyo against joining the expansion of the US-led NATO military alliance into the Asia-Pacific.
China has expressed hope that Japan will refrain from taking measures that would undermine mutual trust and stability in the region.
However, Japan and NATO agreed on a new partnership program earlier this month, sparking China's ire. Adding insult to injury, the US Navy also deployed a nuclear-armed submarine to the South Korean port city of Busan.
NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg has claimed that China's military clout had become a source of concern, prompting Tokyo to call for NATO's eastward expansion.
Beijing and Moscow, however, are strongly opposed to NATO's eastward expansion, insisting that it would undermine peace and security in the region.