China says Japan's interference with navy drills dangerous, provocative

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BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The recent intrusion of Japanese warship and military plane into Chinese navy drills is a very dangerous provocation, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said here Thursday.

The Defense Ministry has lodged a stern representation to Japan, Yang told a press briefing.

Yang said the Chinese side demands that Japan reflects on its mistakes, take actual actions to correct them, stop all activities that disturb China's legitimate military drills and make sure no such incident will happen again.

"Otherwise, all consequences that arise shall be borne by the Japanese side," Yang said. "The Chinese side reserves the right to take further actions."

Yang said on Oct. 23, China issued an alert through the International Maritime Organization that the Chinese navy would conduct military drills and live fire in a certain zone on the open seas of the West Pacific Ocean between Oct. 24 and Nov. 1. Ships and aircraft of other countries were advised to keep out of the area.

Yang said despite this, the No.107 ship of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force ignored repeated dissuasion of the Chinese side, forcedly intruded into the drill zone at 10:41 a.m. on Oct. 25. Yang said the Japanese warship remained in the drill zone until 7:32 a.m. on Oct. 28.

Yang said Japanese surveillance aircraft repeatedly entered the drill zone.

During the navigation of the Chinese navy fleet, warships and aircraft of the Japanese self-defence force conducted intensive tracking, surveillance and monitoring, Yang said.

"These actions by the Japanese ships and aircraft have not only disturbed our legitimate drills, but also imposed hazards to the navigation safety of our ships and aircraft, and may even lead to misjudgment, misfire and other incidents," Yang said.

In contrast, China offered help to the Japanese side when it asked to rescue a Japanese trawler in the drill zone of the Chinese navy, Yang said.

"These acts and deeds by Japan are not only against international practices, they are also in contradiction to the norms of international relations," Yang said.

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