New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Monday clarified the "expansionist" remark by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Japan visit was not in reference to any country, and added that the media was responsible for inferring it was targeted at China.

"He (Modi) never referred to a particular country. It was the media's inference. He specifically spoke about the 18th century," said Sushma Swaraj in response to a query on the import of Modi's remark where he referred to "expansionist" twice in his speech.

Modi, during his Japan visit deplored the "expansionist" tendency among some countries, which, he said, "encroach" upon seas of others.

"We have to decide if we want to have 'vikas vaad' (development) or 'vistar vaad' (expansionism), which leads to disintegration. Those who follow the path of Buddha and have faith on 'vikas vaad', they develop. But we see, those having ideas of the 18th century engage in encroachments and enter seas (of others)," Modi had said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is slated to visit India in the third week of September. China is engaged in territorial disputes with a number of its neighbours, including India, Japan and Vietnam.