BEIJING - Chinese submarines are free to navigate international waters, including the Northwest Pacific, which is also visited by other nations' maritime forces, the spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense said Thursday.

Spokesman Geng Yansheng made the remarks at a regular ministry briefing.

He also criticized the so-called "China Military Threat," as described by some Japanese media, as an act of "intentionally creating tension with an ulterior political motive."

"Such act is irresponsible and not conducive to peace and stability in the region," Geng said.

His remarks were made in response to a reporter's question regarding some Japanese media outlets' recent, frequent reporting on the voyages of China's Yuan-type submarines in Japan's contiguous zones.