Naval exercises not a threat, says Ministry

BEIJING - China Friday defended its naval exercises in the East China Sea, saying that its ships did not violate international laws and pose no threat to other countries.

Huang Xueping, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said Thursday that the navy was training in international waters and that Japan should not take "drastic action" to disrupt Chinese vessels undergoing training exercises.

Japan complained to China on Wednesday that a Chinese military helicopter flew close to a Japanese naval vessel, which was the second such encounter this month, the Associated Press reported.