Are China And Japan At War Over The South China Sea?

China said Tuesday it was unaware of Japan’s direct motives for plans to drill and train a warship in the heavily disputed South China Sea later this year, Reuters reported.

Japan announced Monday it would send, in conjunction with ally the United States, its Izumo helicopter carrier to sea largely claimed by China in May with stops scheduled for Singapore, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Read: Japan Taking South China Sea?

But a spokesperson for China’s main diplomatic arm said the superpower was waiting for clarification on Japan’s intentions.

"We have not yet heard what Japan says officially," Chinese Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying told reporters during a daily press briefing according to Reuters.

"If it's only a normal visit, going to several countries and passing normally through the South China Sea, then we've got no objections, and we hope this kind of normal exchange between relevant countries can play a role promoting regional peace and stability," Hua said, while also adding a slightly veiled warning.

"But if going to the South China Sea has different intentions, then that's a different matter."

Japan and China have long dealt with issues over the East China Sea, but Tokyo’s overture in the South China Sea is relatively new. The scheduled movement of one of its warship comes at a time when China and the U.S. have gone back and forth over the extremely valuable waterway as well as North Korea’s growing defense and nuclear programs and economic policies.

Read: U.S., South Korea Training For North Korea's Army

The U.S., especially since President Donald Trump’s proclamations along the campaign trail and since his victory in November, routinely chastised China over its building of artificial islands and possible military installations at the heart of the South China Sea.

A massive swath of maritime territory, the sea is one of the most valuable trade routes in the world with an estimate of $5 trillion running through its waters. By announcing the military drills, Japan may have signaled it's joining other Asian nations, like the Philippines and Vietnam, that have questioned China’s long-held claims to the sea.