China slams Japan's tracking of Liaoning carrier group as 'propaganda campaign'

China says Japan's attempt to play up a legitimate training operation in the Western Pacific is doomed to fail.

"People see clearly that the Japanese side is playing up China's legitimate operation to stoke tensions and mislead public opinion," Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said Tuesday. "This propaganda campaign will never succeed."

Zhang's remarks came after Japan repeatedly tracked and monitored the Liaoning Carrier Task Group (CTG Liaoning) during recent training in the Western Pacific. Japan's Ministry of Defense has disclosed details including the task group's vessel numbers, training location and sorties flown by ship-borne aircraft. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Japan would continue to closely monitor the movements of the Chinese carrier task group and stay on alert.

Zhang said that CTG Liaoning is conducting planned training in Western Pacific waters, "not targeted at any specific country or entity" but "aimed at enhancing the combat capabilities of the CTG through far-seas training." 

He added that the China responded to multiple Japanese surveillance operations during the training in accordance with laws and regulations.