Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Friday clarified that a U.S. newspaper misquoted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's China-related statement in an interview and led to misunderstandings.

Abe has repeatedly emphasized that Japan-China relationship remains one of the most important bilateral relationship for Japan and Japan will push forward the bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations through an overall perspective, Suga said.

The Washington Post published an interview with Abe on Thursday prior to his U.S. visit, quoting Abe as saying that "China has a 'deeply ingrained' need to spar with Japan and other Asian neighbors over territory, as the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) uses the disputes to maintain strong domestic support."

China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Thursday that "the Chinese side was astonished at the report," adding it is rare for a country's leader to brazenly assault its neighbor and instigate antagonism and such behavior goes against the will of the international community.

Hong said China is committed to developing relations with Japan but will not sit by and watch the country distort China's diplomatic policy or make antagonistic moves regarding territorial issues.