China made a rare release of video footage and photos on Thursday to show the risky scene of Japanese aircraft stalking Chinese planes at a stunningly close distance above the East China Sea.

Experts observed that the Japanese aircraft were carrying missiles to pose a blunt threat, and the distance between them was close enough to lead to a crash.

China's Ministry of National Defense criticized Japan's accusation that a Chinese military aircraft had "approached unusually close" to two Japanese warplanes, saying it's "a thief who cries thief".