China warned Japan on Wednesday not to test its naval power by taking 'provocative' actions around a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea.

China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Tokyo would suffer the consequences if it enforces its earlier pronouncements banning foreign naval vessels from entering Japanese waters.

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China was reacting to Japan's earlier statement that it will ban foreign naval vessels (including Chinese ships) from entering Japanese waters.

Japan had told China that foreign vessels navigating the disputed waters will be asked to leave by the navy patrol.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China has the right to navigate the disputed waters and conduct patrol activities around the islands for as long as it wants.

Global Times has stated that once Japan sends its navy in the disputed islands, China will have to send its naval warships, too.

The newspaper, run by the Communist Party, said China can send as many warships to the disputed islands for every ship Japan will send.

Political analysts say the latest Japanese pronouncements have intensified the already tense situation in the disputed waters of the East China Sea, forcing China to react militarily.

"We advise Japan against taking provocative acts or doing anything to raise tensions, otherwise it will have to accept responsibility for everything that happens," Hong said without elaborating.

The Japanese government said last year that Chinese ships had sailed near the disputed isles in the contested waters which are under Japan's control.

The disputed isles are known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyu in China.

TagsChinese naval power, foreign naval vessels