China bitterly attacks Japanese prime minister over air zone remarks

China has condemned Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, for "maliciously slandering" its self-proclaimed air defence zone, ratcheting up the war of words between the neighbours over Beijing's annexation of the skies over a group of disputed islands.

Abe told a news conference that China's recent announcement of the air defence identification zone over disputed islands in the East China Sea was "unjustly violating the freedom of aviation over the high seas" and demanded Beijing rescind it.

In the most bitter remarks so far in the dispute, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei defended the zone, which has triggered protests from Japan, the United States and South Korea.

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