BEIJING: China on Monday warned Japan and the United States to stop creating imaginary enemies after the countries lashed out against Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea in Tokyo talks.
“We strongly urge the US and Japan to immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and stop creating imaginary enemies,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian.
After talks in Tokyo on Sunday, the US and the hosts slammed China’s actions in the South China Sea while also denouncing Russia’s growing military cooperation with North Korea and China.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Japanese counterparts “reiterated their strong objections to the PRC’s maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea”, a joint statement said, using an acronym for China.
The communique added China’s actions are destabilizing this region which include unsafe encounters at sea and in the air, efforts to disrupt other nations’ offshore resources exploitation, as well as the dangerous use of maritime militia vessels and Coast Guard.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin on Monday said the joint statement “disregards facts, mixes up right and wrong and maliciously attacks China’s foreign policy”.
He said the communique crudely meddles in the internal affairs of China, maliciously attacks and smears China on maritime issues. While deploring and opposing the communique Lin said it maliciously hypes up tensions in the region.
