China on Wednesday denied a Japanese media report that Beijing had proposed renting a port facility on a South Korean island in 2013.

Japans Asahi newspaper reported earlier this week that China had asked South Korea to let a Chinese company rent a port facility on Koje Island off the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula.

But, the proposal was rejected by South Koreas defense ministry, according to the report.

"I have never heard of such a plan and the relevant report is not worth commenting on," Chinas foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei replied, when asked about the report.

In November 2013, China drew concerns from South Korea, the United States and Japan after it unilaterally declared an air defense identification zone over the East China Sea.

This year, the Chinese military has carried out military drills in the western Pacific, raising speculations that Beijing is seeking a pathway from eastern China to the Pacific Ocean. (Yonhap)