China has defended its construction of military and civilian facilities in the South China Sea.

Admiral Wu Shengli of the People's Liberation Army Navy defended China's development activities in the much-contested region during a teleconference with US Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson on Wednesday.  

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"Our necessary defensive step of building islands and reefs in the Nansha [Spratly] Islands is not militarization, but this has been maliciously hyped up by certain countries and media," Wu claimed.

China's construction of an airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef -- and the landing of Chinese aircraft on the facility recently-- has been the source of intense diplomatic wrangling between China and rival claimants Vietnam and the Philippines.

The Chinese admiral said the airstrip will provide a service to the rest of world, and help China fulfill its international obligations. 

Beijing, however, is yet to announce whether the airstrip will be open to foreign aircrafts.   

"Level of Threat"

Speaking to Johnson, Wu addressed concerns raised by other claimants about China's aggressive military posture in the area.

"We will certainly not seek the militarization of the islands and reefs, but we won't not set up defenses," said Wu.  "How many defenses depends on the level of threat we face." 

Other nations that regard Chinese naval presence in the South China Sea as a security concern have added their voices to the diplomatic row over Beijing's construction of facilities in the disputed waters. Tokyo has expressed solidarity with countries contesting China's claim in the territory.

Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida said earlier this month that the sudden presence of Chinese aircraft in the Spratly Islands is an indication that China is determined to impose its will over the area in spite of the rival claims of other nations.   

"Japan is gravely concerned about China's act, which is a unilateral change of the status quo," Kishida said of the Chinese aircraft landings.  "Japan will continue to cooperate with other countries concerned to protect the freedom of the seas," he added. 

Japan's Concern

Japanese naval commanders have asserted that China's maritime activities in the South China Sea constitute a security concern for Japan's defense forces.  Citing a US-Japan defense agreement signed in April 2015, Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, chief of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Force, said in June last year that Japan reserves the option to send vessels out to patrol the South China Sea alongside US naval forces.

"Of course, the area is of utmost importance to Japanese security," said Kawano. "We don't have any plans to conduct surveillance in the South China Sea currently, but depending on the situation, I think there is a chance we could consider doing so."

Wu said the PLA Navy is prepared to defend China's sovereignty over the Spratly Islands., but he did not elaborate further on the statement.