CHINA has claimed Japan's accusations of Chinese fighter jets flying "abnormally close" to Japanese military aircraft over the East China Sea were aimed at deceiving the international community.

Japan protested after Chinese warplanes flew "abnormally close" to Japanese military aircraft over the East China Sea on Wednesday.

China's Defence Ministry said Japan's repeated accusations "were aimed at furthering the deception of the international community, smearing the image of our military and manufacturing tensions in the region".

It added: "This type of vile approach by Japan disregards the facts, confuses right and wrong and is entirely the villain bringing suit against his victims."

On Wednesday, two Japanese F-15 planes followed a Chinese Tu-154 aircraft and came as close as 30 metres, the ministry said.