It is groundless and irresponsible for Japan to exaggerate the so-called "China threat" in its official document, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong Quan on Tuesday.

Japan's white paper of national defense in 2005, which was issued by the Japanese cabinet on Tuesday, said Japan should be alert to China's military modernization, and be attentive to the movement of China's naval vessels.

When asked to make comments on this white paper, Kong said such practice of Japan would bring harm to both sides' efforts to establish mutual trust on security.

"It would mislead the public, result in suspicion of each other and opposition to each other in emotions, and harm the Sino-Japanese relations," Kong said.

China hopes that Japan would take into account the long-term development of Sino-Japanese relations and do more things conducive to the increase of mutual trust and friendly feelings between the two countries, not going to the opposite, the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua