China warns Japan against joining forces with US
- Foreign minister Wang Yi tells his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi that the view the two countries are ‘joining hands’ has put ‘people on alert’
- Wang also criticised Tokyo’s stance on Taiwan ahead of Joe Biden’s visit to Japan next week
Beijing has criticised Japan’s recent comments on Taiwan and warned it not to join forces with the United States to confront China.
Wang noted that Japan will host the Quad summit with Australia and India during Biden’s visit, according to a readout from the Chinese foreign ministry, and said: “What is of concern and puts people on alert is that even before the US leader embarked on his trip, the view that Japan and the United States were joining hands to confront China was already rampant.”
Wang urged Japan to bear in mind regional peace and stability and “act prudently” m and warned against confrontation, especially if it harmed China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
He also said Japan should “eliminate interfering factors in a timely manner”, especially regarding Taiwan – which Beijing regards as part of its own territory.
“Japan’s negative movements on Taiwan and other issues involving China’s core interests and major concerns have become prominent recently,” the minister said, adding “smears and attacks” by some Japanese politicians have seriously undermined mutual trust.