China says Japan defence review misleading, damages relations

“The white paper has launched unfounded accusations against China’s constructions on its own islands – obviously an attempt to depict China as a bully in regional conflicts, supporting the Japanese government’s knavish claim over the disputed waters in the East China Sea”, Xinhua said. Before then, Beijing had curtailed activities under an agreement with Japan to jointly develop undersea resources in disputed areas.

China on Tuesday voiced strong discontent and firm opposition over Japan’s annual defense white paper, saying the paper deliberately plays up the so-called “China military threat”. China’s military activities both in the South China Seas and near Japan, particularly around the Senkaku Islands have alarmed many in East Asia and Japan is no exception.

The Japanese defense review had expressed concern that the platforms being built by China could also be used as monitoring stations near the islets.

Asked if China’s military assertiveness was behind the bills, he said the security environment was worsening but declined to single out China by name.

Enhancing the modernization of national defense and the armed forces is a legitimate right of China as a sovereign state, said a press release by the defense ministry.

China is also locked in disputes with several other countries over its claims to nearly the entire South China Sea and is currently pursuing a rapid programme of artificial island construction.

The paper came as the Japan’s ruling coalition attempts to push controversial security bills through the House of Representatives that move the country a step closer to approving legislation that would allow its Self-Defense Forces to fight overseas for the first time since the end of World War II.

This time, to provide evidence, the MOFA statement provided photographs and a map of the Chinese structures in the East China Sea. “This legislation opens the door to virtually unfettered government discretion over the use of force that violates Japan’s fundamental principle over six decades of an exclusively self- defense posture”, it said.

When Abe visited the U.S.in April, he skillfully sidestepped calls for an apology with vague words and expressions carefully selected to stick to his administration’s position not to unequivocally acknowledge Japan’s responsibility for the atrocity.

China has criticized Japan’s demand that China stop oil exploration operations in parts of the East China Sea.

South Korea has long called on Japan to address the sexual slavery issue with a clear apology and compensation for victims, but Tokyo has refused to do so. The document also says that Japan has “repeatedly protested” over Beijing’s action in the South China Sea.

But China was singled out as the greatest danger to Japan, taking up one-third of a chapter on global security trends covering eight countries and regions.