Hong Lei, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is on a regular press conference on Jan.19, 2016. (Photo from official website of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

China is on high alert against Japan's attempt to poke its nose in the issue of the South China Sea, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in response to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's latest interview with Financial Times on Jan.19.

In his recent interview with the Financial Times, Abe said that Japan harbors very strong concerns over China's building of islands in the South China Sea and development of resources in the East China Sea. He called on the international community to raise its voice against this.

China's oil and gas development activities in the East China Sea are all conducted in undisputed waters under the jurisdiction of China. They are within the realm of China's sovereign right, Hong Lei, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on the regular press conference on Tuesday.

Hong mentioned that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters. Construction by China on relevant islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands falls within China's sovereignty. It is legitimate, reasonable and justified.

Japan once snatched from China islands in the South China Sea during the Second World War. The Chinese government retrieved them after the War. Japan should reflect upon rather than forget what it has done during the aggression, act and speak cautiously on issues concerning the East China Sea and the South China Sea, Hong said.

Hong urged that Japan should make more efforts to increase mutual trust with its neighbors and promote regional peace and stability instead of sowing discord.