PLA Navy accuses Japan of smears

A Chinese military spokesman on Sunday accused Japanese military aircraft of repeatedly interfering with training operations east of the Miyako Strait, urging Japan to stop its smear campaign against China.

Wang Xuemeng, spokesman for the People's Liberation Army Navy, issued a statement regarding the CNS Liaoning aircraft carrier group's far-sea training exercise. The statement said that the Liaoning carrier group conducted carrier-based fighter jet training in pre-announced sea and air areas east of the Miyako Strait.

However, Wang said that Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft "repeatedly approached and disrupted" the carrier group's training areas, which "seriously affected normal operations and posed a serious threat to flight safety".

The spokesman criticized Japan's statements related to the matter as "completely inconsistent with the facts" and urged Tokyo to immediately stop smearing China and to "strictly rein in front-line forces".Wang said that the Chinese Navy would take necessary legal measures to firmly safeguard its security and lawful rights.

The accusations follow remarks from Japanese officials regarding the activities over the weekend.

According to The Associated Press, Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Sunday that Chinese military aircraft launched from the Liaoning carrier near the southern island of Okinawa on Saturday.

He alleged the Chinese planes locked their radar onto Japanese F-15 fighter jets on two separate occasions that day.

China's Ministry of National Defense on Sunday also expressed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition" to Japan's provocation and attempt to mislead the public, accusing Tokyo of deliberately disrupting Chinese military training activities. Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang called Japan's claim "a classic case of the guilty party filing the complaint".

"We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to Japan's provocation and its attempt to mislead public opinion," he said.

Zhang said Japan has "recently become increasingly aggressive and provocative in the security and military domain," adding that "the world knows perfectly well what lies behind such moves".

"If Japan chooses to return to the path of militarism, it will only lead itself into an abyss of no return," Zhang said.

He urged Japan to "clearly recognize the situation, seriously reflect and correct its mistakes, and completely abandon any misguided schemes".

"Japan must stop moving further down a path that puts it at odds with the Chinese people and the international community," he said.

jiangchenglong@chinadaily.com.cn