calendar>>April 3. 2011 Juch 100

China on Story about Its Helicopter's Watch on Japanese Ship

Beijing, April 1 (KCNA) -- Jiang Yu, spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a press conference on March 31 dismissed Japanese claims that a Chinese helicopter flew too close to a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer in the East China Sea.

Japan had lodged protests to China noting that a Chinese State Oceanic Administration helicopter watched the destroyer of the Japanese Maritime SDF in the East China Sea by flying close to it.

The helicopter was conducting regular patrols and maintained the necessary safety distance from the destroyer, the spokeswoman said.

Clarifying China's consistent and clear stance on the East China Sea, she urged Japan to take a responsible attitude on the relevant issues and stop doing things that might further complicate the situation.