BEIJING — China’s Ministry of National Defense has issued a firm rebuttal to Japanese officials regarding their portrayal of Chinese military exercises as threatening regional security. Defense Spokesperson Jiang Bin addressed the matter on Monday, December 15, 2025, characterizing Japan’s comments as a deliberate diversion tactic.
The diplomatic response came following Japanese statements concerning recent flight operations conducted by Chinese carrier-based aircraft. Jiang emphasized that these activities represent standard military training procedures that fall entirely within China’s sovereign rights. The spokesperson further asserted that such routine exercises should not be misrepresented as provocative actions.
Jiang Bin explicitly stated that attempts to redirect attention from substantive issues through what he termed ‘baseless allegations’ would prove unsuccessful. The defense official’s remarks underscore growing tensions between the two Asian powers regarding military transparency and regional security perceptions.
This exchange occurs amid ongoing regional discussions about military modernization and operational patterns in East Asian waters. China maintains that its military activities serve purely defensive purposes and conform to international norms governing naval operations.