China said the presence of a Japanese Self-Defence Forces vessel in the Taiwan Strait is provocative, in a sign that ties between Asia’s two largest economies continue to be strained. “Japan’s dispatch of a SDF vessel into the Taiwan Strait to flex its military muscle and deliberately provoke trouble is compounding its mistakes,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing on April 17. “The Chinese military has handled it in accordance with law.” China is firmly opposed to the vessel’s presence and has protested to Tokyo, Mr Guo added. Japan’s Defence and Foreign Affairs ministries didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Full report : China says the presence of a Japanese Self-Defense Forces vessel in the Taiwan Strait is provocative.