China blasts Japan over radar-illumination claim, warns against 'militarism'

China's Ministry of National Defense on Sunday evening 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 made the remarks in a statement responding to Japan's Defense Ministry, which claimed that fighter jets from the CNS Liaoning aircraft carrier group illuminated a Japan Air Self-Defense Force aircraft with radar over high seas southeast of Okinawa. Japan said it had lodged a strong protest with China.

Zhang said the Liaoning carrier group's far-sea training east of the Miyako Strait complied fully with international law and practice. He said Japanese aircraft had repeatedly entered areas publicly designated by China for training and engaged in malicious close-in tracking and disruption, only to later accuse China of improper behavior.

Zhang 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.

The spokesman 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.