Tensions Rise: China's Displeasure Over U.S.-Japan Comments

Beijing has raised objections to Tokyo regarding negative comments about China made during a meeting between Japan and the United States. China criticized the remarks as 'provocative' and urged Japan to adopt a rational understanding of China, emphasizing the contradiction between Japan's comments and its stated strategic intentions.

Beijing has raised strong objections to Tokyo following negative comments about China made during a recent meeting between Japan and the United States, according to China's foreign ministry on Wednesday.

Liu Jinsong, the director-general of Asian affairs at China's foreign ministry, formally lodged a complaint to Japan. The criticisms concerned remarks from the U.S. and Japan describing Beijing's actions in the South and East China Seas as 'provocative' and its military cooperation with Russia and nuclear expansion as concerning. 'China urges Japan to establish an objective and rational understanding of China and avoid making irresponsible remarks about its internal affairs,' Liu stated to the chief minister at the Japanese embassy in China.

Liu's meeting with Yokochi Akira highlighted various 'negative words' about China during recent diplomatic discussions. He noted several 'fallacies, dangerous trends, and false narratives.' The U.S. and Japan had, in a recent security dialogue, termed China the 'greatest strategic challenge facing the region.'

Further criticisms of China emerged during discussions with Australia and India, and in a joint statement by foreign ministers from these nations along with Japan and the U.S. They expressed serious concerns about China's actions in the South China Sea. Liu pointed out that Japan's actions contradict its stated goals of a mutually beneficial relationship with China.

He called on Japan to cease collaborating with other countries to foster confrontation and instead work in cooperation with China.

(With inputs from agencies.)