China warns Japan against stoking military tensions over Taiwan
- Chinese foreign ministry lashes out after Japanese defence chief says Nansei Islands are a source of concern
- Beijing says it will safeguard its territory and Tokyo should not stretch too far
In an interview with Nikkei newspaper on Wednesday, Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said the country could take a “radically different approach” to counter Beijing’s growing military strength.
Kishi said the military balance between Japan and China had “leaned heavily toward China in recent years, and the gap has been growing by the year”.
“The security environment surrounding Japan is changing rapidly, with heightened uncertainty. We will properly allocate the funding we need to protect our nation,” he said.
Kishi said the Nansei Islands, a chain known as the Ryukus in Japan and that stretches from the southernmost of the Japanese mainland to Taiwan, were a major area of concern.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded on Friday, saying Japan should “stop disinformation and slander” against China.