"China... supports international nuclear disarmament and we have made unremitting major efforts in this regard," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters.

"The Japanese accusations in this regard are completely groundless."

Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone made the comments about China on Monday as he called on nations that possess atomic weapons to back US President Barack Obama's call for a nuclear-free world.

Speaking ahead of a visit to Beijing this week by Japanese Premier Taro Aso, Nakasone said: "China's strategic direction is unclear... It is modernising its nuclear arsenals while it has not tackled nuclear arms reduction."

He also said China was not disclosing information on its nuclear arms programmes.

Jiang did not comment when asked whether Nakasone's comments would adversely impact Aso's visit, which begins on Wednesday.

China protested last week after it emerged that Aso had made an offering of a ceremonial plant to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which honours 2.5 million war dead as well as 14 top war criminals from World War II.

Beijing warned the offering could have "a serious and negative influence" on bilateral relations.

The shrine has long been a flashpoint between the two nations as China still deeply resents Japan's bloody occupation of parts of the country from 1931 to 1945.

Jiang also declined to comment when asked whether the Yasukuni row would affect the visit or bilateral ties in general.

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