China has angrily responded to allegations from Japan that Beijing continues to act in an assertive manner in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

Japan, in its annual defense white paper, expressed 'concern' over increased Chinese activities in the East China Sea region.  

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China's Defense Ministry on Tuesday slammed the Japanese white paper, saying it is "full of lies."

"The white paper issued on August 2, full of hackneyed expressions, distorts China's justified and reasonable defense work, heightening issues in the South China Sea and the East China Sea," China's defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. "Filled with hostility to the Chinese military, it stirs up trouble between China and its neighbors, and attempts to deceive the international community."

China also rejected allegations that Beijing was changing the status quo in the disputed South China Sea using its military power. It instead accused Japan of causing trouble in the region for its benefit.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying expressed "strong" dissatisfaction about Japan's annual defense white paper over its "groundless" accusations against China. She described it as an "irresponsible" document.

Japan's 2016 defense document, released on Tuesday, blasted China over its assertive behavior in the region saying Beijing is poised to fulfill its unilateral demands without compromise.

"Recently, China has been intensifying activities near the Senkaku Islands, such as its military aircraft flying southward closer to the islands," the document said. The paper also noted that Beijing's land reclamation work in the contested South China Sea water is provocative.

TagsJapan, china, South China Sea, East China Sea, Japan Defense White Paper