Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi took a veiled swipe at China on Sunday, pledging to strengthen the military despite Beijing's criticism of Tokyo's security stance.
Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan has quickened its pivot towards a more proactive defence policy, further shaking off its pacifist outlook in place since World War II.
Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi hit back on Sunday, saying "nothing could be further from the truth" in response to China's accusations.
Koizumi said that China was expanding its military capabilities "without sufficient transparency" and that its military activities were "a matter of serious concern for Japan".
Tokyo would "steadily build up its defence capabilities and make continuous updates with a high degree of transparency", he said.
