Beijing, July 21 (Jiji Press)--The Chinese navy's firing drills conducted within Japan's exclusive economic zone earlier this month were in line with international law and practice, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Tuesday. Japan's reaction to the exercises was unreasonable, Lin told a news conference. The Japanese government has told China through diplomatic channels that the drills could pose a danger to ships sailing nearby. Lin reiterated China's stance of not recognizing Japan's EEZ around the remote Tokyo island of Okinotorishima, around where the exercises took place, asserting that it is not an island but a reef. He said that the Japanese side is trying to exaggerate the legitimate actions of other countries, accelerate remilitarization and use it as an excuse to challenge the postwar international order. On July 6-13, the Chinese navy conducted joint exercises with the Russian navy off the coast of Qingdao in Shandong Province. After the exercises, some of the Chinese vessels headed to the Pacific Ocean for a joint patrol. The firing drills were conducted apparently as part of the move. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]