BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday that China is paying close attention to Japan's moves in the South China Sea.

"Japan illegally occupied China's islands in the South China Sea during World War II, and we are highly vigilant of Japanese action there," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.

Hong's remarks came after media reports said that Japan's maritime self-defense force plans to send a submarine and two warships to Subic Bay in the Philippines for a port call next month. The warships will then proceed to Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam.

"Cooperation between interested countries should be conducive to regional peace and stability," Hong said, stressing that other countries' sovereignty and security interests should be considered.

At the briefing, Hong also said that China and ASEAN members will hold a meeting on the Declaration on Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea from Wednesday to Friday in Manila.

"The Chinese side will clarify its views on effective implementation of the DOC to all concerned parties," said the spokesman.