Japanese media has revealed that China threatened to take military action against Japan if the latter joins the United States' freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea.

The threat was made late June when China said Japan would cross a red line in the South China Sea if it were to join these patrols. The warning was delivered by Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua who told a top Japanese diplomat China might consider taking at military action against Japan if the latter crossed the red line.

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Cheng said Japan should not take part in a "joint military action with U.S. forces that is aimed at excluding China in the South China Sea." He also said China won't concede on sovereignty issues "and is not afraid of military provocations."

Analysts said Cheng's warning was aimed at preventing Japan from getting more involved in the territorial row in the South China Sea. Japan has no direct claims in the South China Sea but since 2015 has been arming the Philippines with warships and aircraft to strengthen that country's naval forces facing China in the disputed sea.

While Japan previously said it has no plans to join the freedom of navigation operations, it's bound by new security laws crafted by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to come to the aid of the United States and the Philippines were China to attack the warships of these two nations.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) is authorized to do this as long as the mission contributes to Japan's defense and doesn't violate restrictions imposed by Japan's pacifist Constitution.

In September 2015, Japan's Diet or Parliament enacted the country's most extensive changes to its defense laws since World War II. The 11 security laws and amendments backed by Abe allow the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to defend the country's close allies in combat for the first time under its Constitution.

The laws also allow the JSDF to defend weapons platforms of foreign countries contributing to Japan's defense. Any use of force must be used only when there is no other option and to the minimum extent required.

Japan last June warned China further Chinese military naval incursions in the waters off its Senkaku islands  also claimed by China will compel Japan to take "necessary actions," including mobilizing the JMSDF. The warning was prompted by a warship of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) entering waters just outside Japanese territorial waters around the Senkakus.

Analysts have taken this to mean Japan has drawn a clear red line with the warning that violations of Japanese sovereignty by the PLAN will be met by force.

China has since tested this red line by sending PLAN warships close to the Senkakus but not close enough to trigger a Japanese military response. In its most blatant challenge to Japan, China last Aug. 6 sent a fleet of 230 fishing boats protected by seven China Coast Guard ships to swarm the waters off the Senkakus. Japan lodged a strong diplomatic protest over the Chinese provocation.

TagsJapan, china, South China Sea, United States' freedom of navigation patrols