"China is strongly dissatisfied with the Japanese leader's comments that distort facts, attack and defame China and stir up confrontations between the two countries," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily press briefing.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Abe said that China's Communist Party had a "deeply ingrained" need to spar with Japan and other Asian neighbors over territory, because the government uses such conflicts to win strong support from citizens whose education system emphasizes patriotism and "anti-Japanese sentiment."
But on Friday Japan sought to clarify comments with a top government spokesman saying that quotations published by the newspaper were "misleading."
"There is no comment made by the prime minister as saying that China wants to clash or [have] collision with other countries," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in Tokyo.
"As I said, as the prime minister said, we value mutually beneficial relations with China based on strategic interests."
Japan's response came after China denounced Abe for the remarks.
"It is rare that a country's leader brazenly distorts facts, attacks its neighbor and instigates antagonism between regional countries," Hong said.
"Such behavior goes against the will of the international community. We have solemnly demanded the Japanese side immediately clarify and explain."
Abe began a visit to the United States Thursday for a summit meeting in Washington with President Barack Obama, where the two are expected to discuss trade relations, North Korea's weapons program and also the ongoing clash between Tokyo and Beijing over a remote chain of islands that both consider part of their territory.
Tokyo controls the islands and purchased several of them last September, setting off the dispute between Asia's two largest economies.
Hong urged the Japanese government and leaders to take a correct view of China and its development, pursue positive policy with China, show sincerity through actions and make efforts to improve bilateral relations.
He said China carries out normal maritime activities in accordance with domestic and international law.
"Thus, navigational freedom and security in the East China Sea and South China Sea have never been affected."
The spokesman said Japan intends to play up the "China threat," mislead world opinion and purposely create regional tensions, as the country has ulterior motives.
"Japan should do more to enhance bilateral trust in politics and security and work for regional peace and stability, rather than act contrarily," Hong said.
He said China has never recognized and will never accept Japan's so-called "actual control" of the disputed islands.
"Japan should face up to history and reality, immediately stop illegal activities on the seas near the Diaoyu Islands and make substantive efforts to properly deal with the current situation," Hong said.
Source: http://www.shanghainews.net/index.php/sid/212763604/scat/9366300fc9319e9b
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