BEIJING: China has warned that India and Japan should not deepen cooperation in a manner that targets any third country or harms Beijing’s interests, after New Delhi and Tokyo agreed to expand collaboration on economic security, semiconductors, critical minerals and artificial intelligence.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press conference in Beijing that cooperation between countries should help safeguard regional peace and stability, rather than create division or confrontation.
His remarks came after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed during talks in New Delhi to strengthen cooperation in key strategic sectors as both countries seek more resilient and reliable supply chains.
The two sides expressed grave concern over economic coercion, non-market policies and arbitrary export restrictions, in an apparent reference to China’s export controls targeting Japan.
Guo rejected any attempt to use economic security as a pretext for bloc politics, saying cooperation should not be used “as an excuse” to create exclusive small groupings.
He said maintaining safe and stable global supply chains was the common responsibility of all countries and urged them to uphold openness and cooperation.
Indo-Pacific dispute
China also criticised Japan’s push for a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, with Guo saying the policy encouraged rivalry and went against regional aspirations for peace, development and cooperation.
Japan, however, rejected Beijing’s criticism. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the free and open Indo-Pacific was an inclusive and open vision and was not intended to fuel conflict or confrontation.
Japan regards India as a key partner in promoting this vision, particularly as China expands its military and economic influence across the region.
The latest diplomatic exchange comes amid already tense relations between China and Japan. Ties deteriorated after Takaichi’s parliamentary remarks last November on Taiwan, when she suggested that a Chinese attack on the island could trigger a Japanese response in support of the United States.
