Japanese radar targeting claims false

BEIJING - Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Thursday that Japanese claims regarding Chinese vessels that allegedly aimed radar and heavy weaponry at Japanese ships are false.

"I want to point out that the Japanese side has repeatedly and deliberately distorted facts, spread false information about China, instigated a confrontation and defamed China," Hua said at a regular press briefing.

She said Japan's claims are irresponsible and are not conducive to resolving the issue.

"We demand the Japanese side respect the facts, act with sincerity and make concrete efforts to properly address the issue through dialogue," Hua said.

China insists that the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea are part of its territory.

China has accused Japan of escalating tensions and undermining bilateral relations as the Japanese government announced to "purchase" part of the islands last year.

The Ministry of Defense said earlier this month that Japan's accusations are untrue, accusing senior Japanese officials of making irresponsible remarks without verifying facts with the Chinese side.

On Wednesday, Japanese media stated that a Chinese maritime surveillance ship aimed heavy weaponry at Japanese fishing ships near the Diaoyu Islands.

A spokesman for the State Oceanic Administration on Wednesday described the reports as groundless, saying the ship was not armed with heavy weapons.