China's navy has conducted what it called "confrontation" exercises in the Sea of Japan, part of routine annual drills, state media said Friday.

The drills, which took place Thursday, come as China seeks to create a navy capable of force projection greater distances away from its shores.

They also come amid a heated dispute with Tokyo over the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. China has in recent weeks ramped up its activity in the area surrounding the islets, which it also claims and calls the Diaoyus.