China slams US-Japan statement
April 26, 2014, 4:56 am

An activist shows a blood-stained hand during a protest rally in Manila, the Philippines on April 25, 2014. The protesters denounce the upcoming state visit of U.S. President Barack Obama to witness the signing of the Agreement on Enhanced Defense Cooperation that would bring back US military bases in the country [Xinhua]

Beijing said the US and Japan use their security treaty to cement bloc politics and undermine a third party’s interests, saying it is “inappropriate and violates the basic norms guiding international relations,” said Qin.

“A gentleman gets along with others, but does not necessarily agree with them, neither does he gang up with others,” China’s Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang quoted Chinese philosopher Confucius on Friday night.

Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have worsened in recent months following long-standing territorial disputes and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors war criminals.

“The United States has deployed its most advanced military assets to Japan and provides all necessary capabilities to meet its commitments under the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.  These commitments extend to all the territories under the administration of Japan, including the Senkaku Islands.  In that context, the United States opposes any unilateral action that seeks to undermine Japan’s administration of the Senkaku Islands,” said the joint US-Japan statement.

China and Japan both lay claims to the set of islands known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said one of its top officials lodged Beijing’s protest in meetings with the American and Japanese Ambassadors.

The name of the Chinese official was, however, not disclosed.

Beijing has long claimed that the real aim of America’s Pivot to Asia is to contain the rise of China. US President Barack Obama is on a four-nation East Asian tour from Wednesday to emphasize Washington’s commitment to the Asia Pivot, furthering its “rebalancing” to Asia strategy.

“The United States and Japan are also making sustained progress towards realizing a geographically distributed, operationally resilient and politically sustainable U.S. force posture in the Asia Pacific, including the development of Guam as a strategic hub,” asserted the joint statement released by the White House.

Earlier on Friday, Qin told a daily press briefing that China has “grave concerns” over some of the contents in the US-Japan joint statement.

“It will be detrimental to the proper solution of relevant issues and the stability of the region to make indiscreet criticisms or remarks on the affairs of other countries,” Qin said.

The United States and Japan issued the statement on Friday, a day after US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks in Tokyo.

The joint statement said the disputed Diaoyu Islands between Japan and China fall under the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and that Washington and Tokyo “share strong concern over” China’s recent actions in the East China Sea and South China Sea, including the declaration of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea.

“We urge the United States and Japan to give up the Cold War mindset, earnestly respect the interests and concerns of other countries in the region and refrain from further disturbances to regional peace and stability,” said Qin.

China claims the ADIZ established in November is in line with international laws and practices.

“China has full sincerity to peacefully solve differences and disputes via direct dialogue between parties concerned, but we will never allow any infringement of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.

Source: Agencies