Japan condemns China’s renewed Diaoyu claim days after Wang Yi’s comments
- Foreign Minister Motegi rejected as ‘totally unacceptable’ his Chinese counterpart’s remarks claiming Beijing’s sovereignty over the islands
- Motegi’s statement comes after ruling party lawmakers criticised him for taking no action when Wang made the territorial claims at a press event in Tokyo
Motegi said he also “again made the request” after the joint press event, during which the two ministers made statements but did not take questions.
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A Japanese foreign ministry official said on Thursday that protocol rules prevented Motegi from commenting on Wang’s assertion at the event, known as a joint press availability, as each minister had only one chance to speak and Motegi had spoken first.
Motegi made the comments condemning Wang’s remarks in the Diet in response to ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Hiroshi Yamada, who asked why the minister did not immediately respond to the remarks in the press event.
“The Japanese public wanted Foreign Minister Motegi to sharply oppose (Wang’s remarks)” on the spot, Yamada said.
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Diaoyu-Senkaku islands spat deepens as Japan warns China over coastguard ships in East China Sea
With Wang at his side, Motegi told reporters at the event that he conveyed to the Chinese foreign minister Japan’s stance on the Senkaku Islands and “strongly urged positive action” by the Chinese side.
When it was his turn to speak, Wang said China will “safeguard China’s sovereignty” over the islands and justified Beijing’s sending of official vessels to the area, saying, “unknown Japanese fishing vessels entered the waters of the Diaoyu Islands”.
At Tuesday’s talks, Motegi and Wang remained apart over Tokyo’s concerns about Beijing’s attempts to undermine Japan’s control of the Senkaku Islands, which China calls Diaoyu.