BEIJING - Japan expressed concern on Tuesday over the Chinese military's recent maritime activities in its annual defense report, a week after Beijing officially announced its aircraft carrier program.
"Given the modernization of China's naval and air forces in recent years, its sphere of influence is likely to grow beyond its neighboring waters," the annual white paper said.
"It is expected that China will try to keep expanding the area of activities, and to make its naval activities a routine practice in waters surrounding Japan including the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, as well as in the South China Sea," it said.
The report, approved by Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan's cabinet, described China's stance in its maritime territorial disputes with its neighbors as "assertive".
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