India, Aug. 7 -- China has lodged a "serious diplomatic" protest with Japan over its latest defence white paper, which portrayed Beijing as Tokyo's "greatest strategic challenge" and made "brazen comments" on Taiwan, further escalating tensions between the two countries.

"The white paper once again targeted China with groundless accusations, rehashing the so-called 'China threat' and grossly interfering in China's internal affairs with brazen comments on China's Taiwan region," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jing said.

"We deplore and firmly reject this, and have lodged serious representations with Japan," he said while answering questions over Japan's new defence white paper.

Defending recurring military drills around Taiwan, which...