The head of China's air force has blasted a Japanese Defense Ministry white paper critical of Chinese military drills in and over waters near Japan, saying "the Sea of Japan is not Japan's sea."
At a military event Thursday in the city of Changchun, People's Liberation Army Air Force chief Ma Xiaotian was quoted by state-run media as saying the exercises will continue.
"The Sea of Japan is not Japan's sea," the Global Times quoted Ma as saying in response to a question at the event. "We must carry out drills at sea. China's air force cannot simply stay on guard on land and not venture out."