China said Friday its activities in a disputed gas field in the East China Sea , also claimed by Japan , are "completely reasonable and legal".

"The Chinese side has complete sovereign rights and the right of jurisdiction over the Chunxiao oil and gas fields," Xinhua news agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Jiang Yu as saying.

" China 's activities in the Chunxiao area is completely reasonable and legal."

Japan said earlier that China had shipped drilling equipment to the gas field, adding to tensions in the worst diplomatic row between the Asian giants in years.

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