FM: Japan's move to expand military capacity 'concerning'

BEIJING - China on Tuesday said Japan's move to use the so-called "external threat" as an excuse to expand its military capacity raises concern and alertness.

Japan has deliberately played up the so-called "external threat" and artificially incurred tension and confrontation so as to take advantage of this excuse to continuously expand and upgrade its military capacity, said Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

"Its true intentions cannot help but raise concern and alertness of the international community," she said at a regular press briefing, when responding to a question about Japan's alleged plan to take down foreign drones entering its airspace.

Kyodo news agency quoted "a source close to the government" as saying Japan plans to shoot down foreign drones that intrude into Japanese airspace if warnings to leave are ignored.

The report says Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued his approval on October 11 when Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera briefed him on the plan.

Japanese media reported in September about a so-called Chinese drone approaching the disputed Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

"The Diaoyu Islands are an inherent part of Chinese territories," Hua said at the press briefing.

"The Chinese side has the resolution and capacity to safeguard national territories and sovereignty and will resolutely react to aggravated provocative actions from the outside," she said.

Hua said due to historical reasons, Japan's policy moves in the areas of military and security have always drawn high attention from its Asian neighbors and the rest of the international community.