China on Wednesday criticized Japan for avoiding reflection on wartime aggression, disguising military expansion with euphemisms and warned the international community to remain vigilant against Japan's actions.

Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

At a routine press briefing in Beijing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks in response to recent statement by Japan's Ministry of Defense spokesperson.

"Japan has avoided discussing its crimes of militarist aggression and expansion, as well as its international legal obligations," Mao said. "Japan has still failed to deeply reflect on history."

Japan instead tried to package overseas military deployment as collective self-defense, whitewash strengthening of offensive capabilities as counter-strike capabilities and conceal export of lethal weapons as defense equipment and technological cooperation, the ministry spokesperson said.

"Figures do not lie and wordplay cannot whitewash Japan's actual moves to rebuild and expand its military," Mao said. "The more Japan tries to cover up these actions, the more vigilant the international community should be."