China said on Thursday that it hoped the entry into service of Japan's second biggest helicopter carrier, the Kaga, did not mean a return to the country's past militaristic history.

Axar.az reports that the ship, along with its sister, the Izumo, gives Japan's military greater ability to deploy beyond its shores.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said that in recent years Japan had exaggerated the "China threat" as an excuse to expand its military.

"I also want to say that the Kaga was sunk by the US military in World War Two. Japan should learn the lessons of history," Hua told a daily news briefing, adding, "We hope the return of the Kaga is not trying to be the start of the ashes of Japanese militarism burning once more."

Japan’s second big helicopter carrier, the Kaga, entered service on Wednesday, giving the nation’s military greater ability to deploy beyond its shores as it pushes back against China’s growing influence in Asia.

Accompanied by a military band, Maritime Self Defense Force commanders took possession of the 248 meter (813.65 ft.) long vessel at the Japan Marine United shipyard in Yokohama near Tokyo, where it was docked next to its sister ship the Izumo.