Beijing criticizes Tokyo's 'mischief'

China will adopt resolute measures against Japan if it insists on interfering in the South China Sea with military power, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday.

"Recently, Japan has been making mischief and stirring up trouble on the South China Sea issue for its own interests, which has destabilized the region and has aroused strong dissatisfaction and opposition among the Chinese people," she told a daily media conference in Beijing.

Reuters reported on Monday that Japan plans to dispatch its largest warship on a three-month tour through the South China Sea beginning in May, in its biggest show of naval force in the region since World War II.

The Izumo helicopter carrier, commissioned only two years ago, will make stops in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka before joining the Malabar joint naval exercise with Indian and US naval vessels in the Indian Ocean in July, it cited sources as saying.

Hua said the South China Sea situation has been stabilizing due to the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries since last year, and "outsiders should respect this effort".

"If Japan insists on taking wrong actions, and even considers military interventions, which endanger China's sovereignty and security and intensifies regional tensions, China will definitely take resolute measures against it," she said.

Hua said Japan should reflect on its "inglorious history" of occupying China's Xisha and Nansha islands during China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). "The Japanese side should behave with caution, and not make waves in the South China Sea, nor harm regional peace and stability," she added.

On Tuesday, Hua said that China has no objection to normal passing of ships through the South China Sea, but "it will be a different matter if the trip has different intentions".

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn