The Chinese navy has begun five-day live ammunition drills in East China Sea.

South Korean media say the drill is a tough warning to Japan. Newspapers in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea said on Monday China-Japan relations face their biggest challenge to date amid the Diaoyu Islands disputes. Singapore media say the Chinese naval drills in the East China Sea are common.

They note the drills are not in disputed waters, and are far away from the Huangyan and Diaoyu islands. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin says the Chinese military has announced the drill and the exercise is not aimed at any specific country or target.