China takes veiled swipe at Japan over regional stability after Donald Trump visit puts Beijing on alert
- Foreign ministry says cooperation between countries should ‘promote the stable development of regional peace, but not the opposite’
- Chinese analysts say stronger military ties between United States and Japan have put Beijing on alert
China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday took a veiled swipe at Japan, saying countries should cooperate to promote regional stability, “not the opposite”.
Beijing made the comment as US President Donald Trump concluded a four-day state visit to Japan, reinforcing ties with the country as the United States is locked in a protracted trade war with China. Asked about the trip, the foreign ministry said the Chinese government had taken note of Trump’s visit to Japan.
“China has no objection to countries establishing normal relationships but we have consistently held that such ties should not target any third country,” the ministry said in a written reply.
“As for cooperation among countries, they should be for the purpose of building trust, and promote the stable development of regional peace, but not the opposite,” it added.
He also visited helicopter carrier the JS Kaga with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, making him the first US president to board a Japanese military vessel.