By Tyler Roney
China’s state media struck out at Japan after Tuesday’s release of their 2013 defense white paper, which accused China of—among other things—using force and coercion to push its territorial claims.
While many of Japan's neighbors are taking exception with the new defense paper, China was particularly scathing in its criticism. Xinhua, for instance, ran a commentary under the headline "Japan runs risk of playing with fire," while the Global Times, a particularly nationalist newspaper, piled on with "Defense paper shows Tokyo's hysteria."
The latter headline – by far the most vitriolic – has run on the front page of Global Times' English website for two days. The editorial, which was overseen by China's controversial Hu Xijin, states: "The hysteria of some Japanese politicians is a result of their country's anxiety and fear," and "Japanese officials take turns to show their toughness on China, and they use the white paper to provoke us."
A great deal of China’s ire, communicated through state-run media, has been directed at Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, accusing him of stirring-up things with China to solidify his right-wing base.
Read the full story at The Diplomat