But spokeswoman Hua Chunying also accused Japan of trying to smear China by "stirring up a crisis".

BBC: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Yuudachi

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said initial police investigations showed it had been "a premeditated attack carried out by a violent terrorist group".

BBC: China's Xinjiang hit by deadly clashes

"A great friend of China" is how China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying described Hugo Chavez after his death was announced.

BBC: Global perceptions of Hugo Chavez