Beijing was astonished at Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent comments concerning China, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Thursday, urging Tokyo to clarify and explain the comments.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe leaves Tokyo for Washington D.C. on Feb. 21, 2013.

In an interview with the Washington Post conducted before paying a visit to the U.S., Abe said China has a "deeply ingrained" need to spar with Japan and other Asian neighbors over territory, as the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) uses the disputes to maintain strong domestic support.

It is rare for a country's leader to brazenly assault its neighbor and instigate antagonism, Hong said, adding that such behavior goes against the will of the international community.

Hong said China is committed to developing relations with Japan but will not sit by and watch the country distort China's diplomatic policy or make antagonistic moves regarding territorial issues.

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