China has slammed Japan over its stance on the South China Sea dispute, accusing Japan of acting abnormally on the issue.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Monday that Tokyo has been engaged in a negative publicity campaign to stir up trouble in the disputed region.

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"Japan launched a negative publicity campaign to stir up troubles in the South China Sea while claiming to represent the international community," Lu said. "Realizing that few countries were on its side, Japan enlisted another seven or eight countries to cheer for its actions."

Beijing's reaction comes after Japan's new defense minister Tomomi Inada announced that Tokyo would participate in joint naval exercises with the United States in the South China Sea.

"Japan will increase its engagement in the South China Sea through, for example, Maritime Self-Defense Force joint training cruises with the US Navy and bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional navies," Inada, a well-known critic of China, said in a speech at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies last week.

In July, the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against China for the Philippines in a long-standing dispute over territories in the South China Sea.

Japan is one of the nations that has asked China to recognize the ruling. Beijing and Tokyo are engaged in a dispute over the ownership of the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which is under the control of Japan.

TagsSouth China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, china, Japan, Senkaku Islands