CRI听力:China Refutes Japan's Accusation on Gas Platforms

In the annual defense white paper approved by the Japanese cabinet on Tuesday, Japan demanded that China stop building a new offshore platform that could be used for "military purposes" in the East China Sea.

The country then published 14 photos on its Foreign Ministry Website of the offshore platform, calling it a unilateral action that Japan protests.

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua on Thursday refuted Japan's accusation, calling them groundless since all the platforms Japan disclosed are clearly in waters under China's jurisdiction.

"There is no dispute over sea area to the west of the so-called "median line". It is non-disputed territory between China and Japan. Japan has no reason to make objections about the area it mentioned yesterday."

Cheng says both countries should respect the principled common understanding on the issue of the East China Sea reached in 2008, and solve problems through dialogue.

Cheng made the remarks after his speech at Japan's National Press Center.

While speaking to the Japanese media, the ambassador also fielded questions about Japan's new defense policies.

"Japan is now actively adjusting its security policy. We're keeping our eyes on whether the Japanese government keeps their promises and maintains its attitude toward the Asian countries and the world."

Cheng says China never makes Japan out to be an 'imaginary enemy", calling it a "dangerous move" for Japan to stir "China threats" as the government in Tokyo works to pass its controversial security bills. He points out that "manipulating China as an imaginary enemy" will only serve as an obstacle for Sino-Japanese relations.

In the meantime, Cheng says China will keep an eye on the much-anticipated statement by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when it comes to Japan's wartime past.

He urged Japan to have a correct perception over China's peaceful development and stopdenying and whitewashing Japan's wartime history.

"If the statement is deliberately vague, or if it lightens responsibility, it will once again rip open the wounds of China and the other victims, and rub salt in them."

Many observers widely expect that Abe's forthcoming statement marking the end of World War II may end up backtracking on statements of regret from previous Japanese administrations about the country's wartime past.

The ambassador reiterated that China welcomes all leaders it invited to participate in the events in September to mark the 70th anniversary of China's victory of the war against the Japanese aggression.

China has invited Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to take part in the event but there has been no reply so far from the Japanese side.

For CRI, I'm Niu Honglin.