China on Friday refuted the accusation that a Chinese vessel had intruded into Japan's territorial waters, saying the navigation was completely in line with international law.
"The Chinese Navy vessel did not invade Japan's territorial waters," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing.
Hua made the remarks in response to reports saying a Chinese warship sailed through the Tokara Strait, located between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Japan's defense minister accused China of not informing Japan in advance that the military ship would enter Japanese waters.
Hua said, according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), vessels have the right to pass through a strait used for international navigation. The Tokara Strait is such a strait. Thus, the Chinese vessel's navigation was fully in line with the UNCLOS.
Hua also reminded the Japanese side that the right of passage through a strait used for international navigation should not be confused with the right of innocent passage in territorial waters.
"We hope that Japanese media or officials from the government would refer to international law before making some remarks," Hua said.
Earlier on Friday, China's Defense Ministry said, "We have noticed relevant reports by Japanese media and we really can't understand why Japan repeatedly exaggerates the legitimate activities of Chinese warships recently."
