The rhetoric between Asia's two superpowers is becoming more belligerent with China warning that if Japan carries out a threat to shoot down foreign drones, it would be an act of war.

Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe has issued his own warning, saying Tokyo is prepared to be more assertive towards Beijing, while also telling China not to use force to try to change the regional balance of power.

Over the weekend, Japan twice scrambled fighter jets to monitor Chinese military aircraft flying near Okinawa.

Speaking at a military parade which looked very similar to the ones seen in North Korea, Mr Abe rallied Japanese troops.

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"Post-World War II, we have prospered and moved forward as a peaceful nation. This is something for us to be very proud of," Mr Abe said.

"However, in order for us to continue protecting this peace into the future, we must be vigilant."

This vigilance is particularly directed towards China, which is locked in a dispute with Japan over a handful of rocky outcrops in the East China Sea.

Controlled by Tokyo and known in Japan as the Senkakus and in China as the Diaouyu Islands, they are home to nothing more than a few inbred goats.

But whoever controls these outcrops controls the vast maritime territory that surrounds them - a seabed said to be rich in rare earth minerals and some known oil reserves.

Beijing regularly buzzes the skies around the islands with aircraft, while its ships also sail close by.

It is even understood China has flown unmanned drones near the islands, a move which has infuriated Tokyo.

The Japanese government was said to be drafting plans to shoot down any drone that encroached on its airspace - a threat that sparked a testy response from Beijing at the weekend.

"We advise relevant parties not to underestimate the Chinese army's resolute will and determination to protect China's territorial sovereignty," defence ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said.

"If Japan does what it says and resorts to enforcement measures like shooting down aircraft, that is a serious provocation to us, it is an act of war. We will surely undertake decisive action to strike back."

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Also at the weekend, Mr Abe told the Wall Street Journal he was concerned that Beijing is trying to change the status quo in North Asia by force.

He warned that if China opts to take that path, it would not be able to emerge peacefully.

For Asia's two biggest economies and military superpowers, the talk is becoming very dangerous.