The Japanese defense ministry has lambasted China's purported use of coercive measures to claim ownership of disputed maritime territories in the East and South China Sea. In Japan's annual defense white paper released on Tuesday, Japanese authorities have urged China to desist from further exploratory activities in the contested waters.

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These harsh criticisms of China have come as a surprise to many pundits as both nations were seen to be actively attempting to heal their strained ties. Last week, the head of Japan's National Security Council, Shotaro Yachi, visited China and met with several top Chinese leaders including Premier Li Keqiang.

During his stay in Beijing, Yachi is reported to have reached a tentative agreement on how both nations would deal with their dispute over the Diaoyu Islands. Yachi said Japanese authorities are willing to mend their ties with China and noted that Japan's widely criticized security bills are not targeting any particular nation.

Nonetheless, Reuters reported that Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party rejected an earlier draft of Japan's latest defense white paper which didn't take a hardline against China.

The Japanese annual defense review highlighted China's growing maritime assertiveness in the region as a cause for concern. The report said China has been developing gas fields and is engaged in exploratory activities in the East China against the agreement between both nations.  It also condemns China's land reclamation and construction project in the South China Sea.

China has been exploring its offshore oil and gas reserves as part of a strategy to adopt green energy and reduce carbon emission. Although Japan does not have direct claims in the South China Sea, the report notes that China's activities in the region concerns the international community.

Several of Japan's allies - including the U.S. and Philippines - have been at the forefront of the protests against China's construction project in the South China Sea. If Japan's upper house approves the country's latest security bills and the dispute in the South China Sea continues to deteriorate, there is a dreadful possibility that the East Asian giants may face off against one another again.

Japanese authorities have voiced worries over China's growing defense budget and the country's increasing military capabilities. Japan's 2014 defense white paper claimed that China is strengthening its military to prevent Taiwan independence and further the government's anti-access policy. The report also said China is strategically developing its deployment capabilities in open sea.

Japan, the U.S., New Zealand and Australia recently conducted joint military exercises in the Australian coast. This is the first time that Japanese troops participated in the annual military games and Chinese officials were there as observers. Experts have expressed the opinion that despite the transparent nature of the exercise, Chinese authorities are likely to see it as an affront.

TagsJapan Defense Report 2015, Japan Security White Paper 2015, Japan Security Bills 2015, Japan Defense News, Japan Defense Policy, Japan Defense Budget 2015, China-Japan relations, China Japan East China Sea, Japan Defense Paper