Beijing: Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei has strongly refuted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe`s recent remarks on China`s East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone.
Hong Saturday expressed China`s strong anger over the Japanese leader for his malicious slander against China in the international arena, reported Xinhua, citing a Chinese foreign ministry press release.
During a recent summit between Japan and Southeast Asian countries, Abe criticised China for its "unilateral action" to change the situation in the East China Sea and said China`s air defence zone is unjust violation of the freedom of aviation over the high seas.
Hong reiterated China`s stance on the Diaoyu Islands and slammed Japan`s unilateral actions to provoke disputes since last year.
China`s necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty is in accordance with law and irreproachable, Hong said.
As a defensive measure to safeguard national air security, the establishment of the East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone is in line with international law and practice, Hong added.
