China has criticized Japan's latest defense report released last Tuesday for being "misleading". The document expressed Japan's apprehension over China's natural gas and oil exploration projects in waters being contested by both nations. 

Reuters reported that Beijing will conduct a thorough review of the defense document and will issue the "necessary reaction" when the time comes. However, a number of Chinese officials have already  ommented on the report.

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Chinese defense officials reacted within a few hours of the report's release. They claimed that Japan is trying to stir up trouble in the region. The defense paper mentioned China's ongoing land building projects within disputed territories in the South China Sea. However, Chinese officials have defended the land reclamation project saying it is rightful and doesn't serve any hostile purpose.

Japanese authorities have accused China of violating a long-standing agreement between both nations to jointly explore resources in the area. Tokyo said Beijing is looking for gas and oil on its own near the disputed region. As proof, Japanese authorities have published photographs detailing the extent of China's exploration projects, according to Yahoo News. Japan wants all drilling operations in the area to cease. Tokyo is worried that China's oil platforms in the disputed waters may siphon natural reserves from Japanese territory.

Yoshihide Suga, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, claims China has constructed abount 12 platforms in the contested region within the past five years. Suga, nonetheless, expressed confidence that the ongoing territorial disagreement will not affect the relationship between both nations.

China has denounced the report, which it says is playing on fears of a so-called "Chinese military threat." China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, said Japan's latest defense white paper did not mention the fact that its drilling projects are within maritime rules.

Another source of debate between the two countries is their overlapping claims over a group of islands. The Japanese calls them Senkaku Islands, while the Chinese refers to them as the Diaoyu Islands, according to Asia Times. China maintains that the disputed island in the East China Sea has always been part of its territory.

The Chinese navy is currently conducting a ten day military exercise in the island of Hainan in the South China Sea.

TagsEast China Sea dispute, East China Sea tensions, Senkaku Island dispute, China-Japan relations, sino-japan relations, Yoshihide Suga, east china sea oil explorations, Japan Defense Report 2015