Japan can choose to be ally or threat, says China's ex-foreign minister
A veteran Chinese diplomat called on Tokyo to think carefully about whether it regarded China as a friend or a threat as he took part in a meeting in Japan intended to improve badly frayed ties.
A veteran Chinese diplomat called on Tokyo to think carefully about whether it regarded China as a friend or a threat as he took part in a meeting in Japan intended to improve badly frayed ties.
Retired state councillor Tang Jiaxuan said both China and Japan needed to "reaffirm their understanding of each other" to determine if the other side was a partner or a threat, and had an "urgent need" to resolve historical and territorial disputes.
"It is regrettable that there are fewer people in Japan taking China as an opportunity, but rather spreading noise of a 'China threat' and demonising China.
"Whether this is in line with objective conditions and the interests of Japan is worth deep introspection by the Japanese," he said.
Creating tensions is an irresponsible act of playing with fire
Tang said Sino-Japanese ties had reached their "most severe condition" since they were normalised in 1972, and he criticised Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the Yasukuni war shrine in December and his handling of territorial disputes for the worsening relations.
"Hyping the threat theory and even saying China is attempting to change the status quo by strength, and intentionally creating tensions is an irresponsible act of playing with fire."