Chinese President Hu Jintao called for more effort to be put into China's maritime power on Thursday in a report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as Japan called for China to peacefully use its power.

But analysts said Japan's statements were an effort to justify its military moves around the Diaoyu Islands.

"We should enhance our capacity for exploiting marine resources, resolutely safeguard China's maritime rights and interests, and build China into a maritime power," Xinhua quoted Hu as saying.

He also mentioned maritime power during talks about the country's military modernization process. "We should attach great importance to maritime, space and cyberspace security," Hu said.

Putting the enhancement of maritime power into the report is an indication of future policy direction, analysts said, adding that the new direction indicates China is adapting to the new international environment.

"The original focus of China's military development was on land and its capability at sea has been far from sufficient, which is why Hu pointed out that China will increase its maritime power," Xu Guangyu, a senior consultant with the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told the Global Times.

Military authorities confirmed last week that carrier-based jets have been conducting take-off and landing training on the country's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning.

And China's anti-piracy initiatives in Somalia were further extended by 50 nautical miles (92.6 kilometers) eastward starting from January 1, 2010 according to the Ministry of National Defense, and China will also increase its level of cooperation with other nations to fight against crimes at sea.

However, Hu's remarks drew a response from Japan which is in a dispute with China over Diaoyu Islands.

"It is not surprising to hear leaders in China speak about their intention to engage in maritime activities," Naoko Saiki, deputy press secretary at the foreign ministry, told reporters in Tokyo.

"But those activities must be carried out in a peaceful manner based on international law," AFP quoted Saiki as saying.

Huang Dahui, director of the East Asian Studies Center at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times that Japan is sensitive over China's remarks and moves at sea and its interpretation of Hu's remarks is intended to create an image that China is the country that the international community should be wary of.

A Japanese defense ministry spokesman said the ministry "has great interest in China's maritime activities" and pledged "utmost efforts in maintaining safety in our territorial airspace and waters."

"Japan tries to justify their military moves targeting the Diaoyu Islands, but there's no need to interpret China's strategy so negatively because the aim is to be a responsible member of the international community and protect its own territory," Huang said.