China has expressed its dissatisfaction with Japan over critical comments regarding China made during a meeting between Japan and the United States. China’s foreign ministry revealed that Liu Jinsong, the director-general of Asian affairs, conveyed their complaint to Japan. The complaint focused on statements made by the U.S. and Japan concerning what they termed as Beijing’s ‘provocative’ actions in the South and East China Seas, its joint military exercises with Russia, and the rapid growth of its nuclear weapons arsenal.
Liu Jinsong emphasized China’s expectation that Japan adopts an objective and rational understanding of China and refrains from making irresponsible remarks about China’s internal affairs. He met with Yokochi Akira, the chief minister at the Japanese embassy in China, on Tuesday to address these concerns. Liu highlighted the presence of ‘fallacies, dangerous trends, and false narratives’ in meeting documents related to these discussions.
During security talks between the U.S. and Japan on Sunday, both countries identified China as the ‘greatest strategic challenge facing the region.’ Furthermore, separate discussions and meetings included remarks about China, including a joint statement by foreign ministers from Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. expressing serious concerns about China’s intimidating and dangerous actions in the South China Sea.
Liu pointed out that Japan’s criticisms contradict its own statements about fostering a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship with China. He urged Japan to cease its collaboration with certain countries to create confrontational ‘small circles’ and instead work together with China in the same direction.
