source: www.gmanetwork.com
BEIJING
- Beijing accused Tokyo Thursday of mounting a smear campaign after Japan said
a Chinese frigate had locked its weapons-targeting radar on a Japanese warship
in a "threat of force."
The
world's second- and third-largest economies are at loggerheads over uninhabited
Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea, known as Senkaku in Tokyo
and Diaoyu by Beijing, which claims them.
The
radar incident, which Japan said happened last week, marked the first time the
two nations' navies have locked horns in a dispute that has some commentators warning
about a possible armed conflict.
Asked
to respond to Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera's description of the
radar targeting as a "threat of force," Beijing foreign ministry
spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: "Recently Japan has been hyping up crisis
and deliberately creating tension to smear China's image.
"This
move is counter to the improvement of relations," she told a regular
briefing.
"The
current problem is not China being assertive but about Japanese ships' and
airplanes' repeated illegal activities in the airspace and waters of the Diaoyu
islands, which undermine China's territorial sovereignty."
The
long-running row over the islands intensified in September when Tokyo
nationalized part of the chain, triggering fury in Beijing and huge anti-Japan
demonstrations across China.
Beijing
has repeatedly sent ships and aircraft near the islands and both sides have
scrambled fighter jets, though there have been no clashes.
Japan's
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday the "window for dialogue"
must remain open but reiterated his rebuke to Beijing over the "extremely
regrettable" naval confrontation.
"But
we will not close the window of dialogue. This is most important," said
Abe. "I would like China to return to a more open attitude towards our
strategic partnership."
Abe
Wednesday had described the Chinese action as "dangerous" and
"provocative."
Onodera
told parliament on Thursday the Chinese radar lock amounted to a "threat
of force," but also called for some mechanism to allow defence authorities
to communicate with each other.
"We
think this is a threat of force, as defined in the UN Charter.
"But
what is most important is to prevent incidents like this from recurring in the
future," he said. "I also think it is necessary for Japan and China
to have a means of consultation on maritime safety issues."
In
Washington, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday urged China to avoid
confrontation and seek peaceful dialogue with Japan and other countries over
territorial disputes.
Asked
about the China-Japan tensions, Panetta voiced concern that "it's the kind
of situation where there are territorial claims that could ultimately get out
of hand."
He
added: "One country or the other could react in a way that could create an
even greater crisis."
The
US defence chief said China, the United States and other countries should work
together to address "common challenges," including piracy, natural
disasters and territorial disputes."
China's
premier-in-waiting Li Keqiang, meanwhile, urged marine surveillance staff on
Thursday to intensify law enforcement in China's sea territories, according to
the official Xinhua news agency.
"Supervising
and governing seas under the jurisdiction of China is the main responsibility
of Chinese marine surveillance staff," Li, who is expected to take over as
China's premier next month, was quoted as saying.
It
is believed the island chain—which is also claimed by Taiwan—sits atop vast
mineral reserves. — Agence France-Presse
