Beijing accuses US and Japan of ‘smears’ over Taiwan and South China Sea after Biden-Kishida summit

Comments follow US president’s meeting with Japanese leader, where they unveiled a series of deals to strengthen military and economic ties to counter China

Foreign ministry spokeswoman says Beijing is ‘strongly dissatisfied’ and accuses Tokyo and Washington of interfering in China’s internal affairs

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Joe Biden welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Washington for their summit on Wednesday. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 10:00pm, 11 Apr 2024Updated: 12:25am, 12 Apr 2024

Beijing has accused the United States and Japan of a “smear campaign” after the leaders of the two allies pledged to improve military and economic ties to counter China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in Beijing on Thursday that the two countries should “not target or jeopardise the interests of other countries, or undermine peace and stability in the region”.

“China firmly opposes the cold war mentality and the practice of small-clique politics, as well as words and deeds that create and intensify contradictions to the detriment of the strategic security and interests of other countries,” she said.

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“We have taken note of some of the developments at the summit of the leaders of the United States and Japan, which, despite China’s serious concerns, have launched smear campaigns against China on issues such as Taiwan and maritime affairs, and have grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs, in serious violation of the basic norms of international relations.

“China is strongly dissatisfied with and resolutely opposes this, and has lodged solemn representations with the parties concerned.”

Mao also hit out at US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida over a joint statement that said China’s “accelerating build-up of its nuclear arsenal without transparency nor meaningful dialogue poses a concern to global and regional stability”.

“The so-called concerns expressed by the United States and Japan about China’s nuclear policy are totally divorced from facts and nothing but a false narrative with malicious motives, which China firmly opposes and will never accept,” Mao said.