Chinese ambassador criticizes Japan for 'following' navy vessels+

TOKYO, April 27 Kyodo - Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua on Tuesday criticized Japan for ''following'' Chinese navy vessels engaged in military exercises on the high seas after Chinese vessel-borne helicopters approached Japanese destroyers.

''Japanese (Self-Defense Forces') ships and patrol planes followed (Chinese
vessels) for quite a long time...I think such a thing would be a betrayal of
mutual trust,'' the ambassador told a press conference in Tokyo, speaking in
Japanese.
The ambassador also said that China's naval drills in waters off Japan are
conducted ''in accordance with international rules'' and his country is working
to boost transparency regarding its military buildup by releasing a defense
white paper and through other means.
Tokyo has lodged a protest through diplomatic channels over what it sees as
''dangerous'' approaches by Chinese vessel-borne helicopters toward Japanese
destroyers, which were deployed for surveillance of Chinese vessels.
The incidents took place on April 8 and April 21, when the vessels were sailing
in the East China Sea.
While China has explained to Japan that the approaches were a ''necessary
defense measure'' in response to Japanese surveillance activities, Foreign
Minister Katsuya Okada said Friday that he was ''not convinced'' by the
explanation.
==Kyodo