BEIJING, Nov 25 (Reuters) - China's Defence Ministry said on Monday that it had lodged formal protests with the U.S. and Japanese embassies in China after both countries criticised a Chinese plan to impose new rules on airspace over disputed waters in the East China Sea.

The ministry said the criticisms were unfounded and irresponsible, and called on the United States to stop taking sides in the dispute with Japan over a group of uninhabited disputed islands in the East China Sea. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Sui-Lee Wee)