China opposes Japan’s defense white paper: defense ministry

BEIJING, Aug. 3  (NsNewsWire) — Chinese Defense Ministry on Tuesday expressed strong opposition to Japan’s 2016 defense white paper, calling the annual document hostile to the Chinese military and deceptive to the international community.

“The white paper issued on August 2, full of hackneyed expressions, distorts China’s justified and reasonable defense work, heightening issues in the South China Sea and the East China Sea,” said Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian in a statement, reports Xinhua.

“Filled with hostility to the Chinese military, it stirs up trouble between China and its neighbors, and attempts to deceive the international community, ” Wu said.

He said the Chinese military has lodged solemn representations with Japan over the white paper.

In the 480-page document, some 30 pages are devoted to irresponsible remarks on China’s national defense and China’s normal and legal maritime activities in the East and South China Seas.

On the South China Sea issue, Wu said Japan was attempting to cause trouble for its own benefit.