China rebuffs Japanese interference with research vessel and calls missile test routine

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Japan was interfering with a Chinese research vessel operating near the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands, which Beijing regards as its sovereign territory. Spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the vessel's activities were legitimate and that China had lodged a firm protest with Japan.

The ministry also clarified that a recent submarine‑launched strategic missile test was a routine part of China's annual military training. Mao Ning said the launch had been announced to relevant countries in advance, complied with international law and conventions, and urged other states not to over‑interpret the exercise.

These statements underscore Beijing's stance on defending its maritime claims while portraying its military drills as normal and transparent.