China says U.S. denies plan with Japan over disputed islands BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United States has clarified reports about a U.S.-Japan joint military plan relating to disputed islands in the East China Sea, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Friday. Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing, "China has noticed relevant reports, and the U.S. side has given clarification to the Chinese side and said the Japanese reports were not in line with the fact." Nikkei News reported on Oct. 25 that Japan and the United States had drawn up a plan to jointly "recapture" the Diaoyu Islands if they were taken away. The Diaoyu Islands, called the Senkaku Islands by Japan, have been Chinese territory but were covertly taken by Japan after the 1894-1895 Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese government's plan in September 2012 to "purchase" part of the islands from private owners and "nationalize" them sparked fierce opposition from China and deteriorated Sino-Japanese relations. China dismisses Japan's claims on military activities BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China said on Thursday that Japan should get accustomed to China's reasonable and legitimate military activities rather than making groundless accusations, as it has done recently. Japan has repeatedly tried to create an atmosphere of war, making baseless accusations against the Chinese military's activities while having to acknowledge that these activities are not against international laws, Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said at a regular news briefing. China says Japan's interference with navy drills dangerous, provocative BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The recent intrusion of Japanese warship and military plane into Chinese navy drills is a very dangerous provocation, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said here Thursday. The Defense Ministry has lodged a stern representation to Japan, Yang told a press briefing.