China slams Japan over controversial moves

BEIJING - A Chinese spokeswoman on Tuesday hit back at Japanese criticism regarding China's military expansion and demanded Japanese leaders confess to a recent string of controversial moves.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing, "Japan has become a troublemaker for regional peace and stability. It is no one else but Japan that causes common concern for the world."

In an interview with The Associated Press, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said China's growing maritime activities and lack of transparency in military development "are common concerns of the entire region".

Hua reminded people of Japan's nationalism by quoting Etsuro Honda, an economic policy advisor to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Honda said last week that Japan needs a strong economy so it can build a more powerful military and stand up to China.

Hua reiterated that China follows a peaceful development path and that China's defense strategy is "transparent". She said the country aims to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as regional and world peace and stability.

Japanese leaders and right-wing forces are making negative and wrong comments to deny or glorify its aggression past, she said.

Japan has played up regional tensions, blemished China while trying to revise its own pacifist Constitution and expand its military buildup, she added.

China again urged Japan to face and reflect on history, gain trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community and be a responsible country, Hua said.

Asked to comment on the islet disputes between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan, Hua said territorial disputes between Japan and its neighbors are about Japan's invasion past and colonial rule. She said she hoped the ROK and Japan can resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation.

Lee Sang-deok, director-general in charge of Northeast Asia affairs at ROK's foreign ministry, said on Sunday Japan's territorial claims to the disputed islets, known as Dokdo in the ROK and Takeshima in Japan, were a denial of history.

ROK on Sunday summoned a senior Japanese diplomat to strongly protest against Japan's latest move of sending a high-level government official to attend Saturday's controversial "Takeshima Day" celebration, local media reported.