BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China expresses serious concerns over Japan's deployment of long-range missiles in Kumamoto and Shizuoka prefectures, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.

Photo taken on April 4, 2018 shows the entrance to the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing, capital of China. (File photo: Xinhua)

According to reports, long-range missiles with counterstrike capabilities have been brought into service for the first time at two Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) bases in Japan.

"Japan, under the pretext of defense and counter-strike, is deploying offensive weapons, going far beyond the scope of 'self-defense' and its exclusively defense-oriented policy," Mao told a regular press briefing, adding that Japanese "new militarism" is threatening regional peace and stability, and the international community should be highly vigilant against it.