China and South Korea have expressed concern over Thursday's recommendations by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security panel for legalizing collective self-defense, saying they are watching developments vigilantly.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China has "full reasons to be highly vigilant about Japan's true intentions and its future development" due to its neighbor's violent past.

"We urge Japan to face up and reflect on its history, and respect the security concerns of regional countries," Hua said at a daily press briefing.