Beijing has again hit out at Tokyo over security talks with the United States on the weekend, calling on Japan to stop allying with countries outside the region.
For a second day in a row, Chinese officials protested on Tuesday against the “2+2” meeting of Japanese and US defence and foreign ministers in Tokyo on Sunday.
“China demands that Japan adopt a rational view of China, stop meddling in China’s internal affairs for political gain, cease provocations over maritime issues, and end the practice of rallying non-regional countries to create divisions and confrontations in the region,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
The ministry accused the allies of “smearing and attacking China over maritime issues, clinging to a cold war mentality, manipulating group politics, and stirring up confrontations”.
He added that Beijing had lodged a stern protest with Japan through diplomatic channels over the meetings and a joint statement after the talks.
09:49
Japan weighs bold era of militarisation as Tokyo races to meet defence spending goals
Japan weighs bold era of militarisation as Tokyo races to meet defence spending goals
In the statement, Japan and the US expressed grave concerns over China’s “provocative” actions in the South and East China seas, its military cooperation with Russia, and the swift and opaque expansion of its nuclear arsenal.
The ministers also discussed extended deterrence, Washington’s strategy of using nuclear and conventional weapons to deter attacks on its allies.
Since 2010, the issue has been addressed mainly through a lower-level dialogue. This is the first time that it has been elevated to a ministerial discussion.
The ministers said the region was in the midst of “an increasingly deteriorating regional security environment”, with North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and delivery missiles, China’s expanding nuclear arsenal, and Russia’s military cooperation with North Korea.
“Under these circumstances, the United States and Japan reiterated the need to reinforce the alliance’s deterrence posture, and manage existing and emerging strategic threats through deterrence, arms control, risk reduction, and non-proliferation,” the ministers said.
05:28
Should China be concerned about the latest Japan-Philippines security pact?
Should China be concerned about the latest Japan-Philippines security pact?
But Lin said this kind of cooperation under Washington’s nuclear umbrella was “a relic of the cold war” and would only escalate regional tension and increase the risk of nuclear proliferation.
“China urged the US and Japan to abandon cold war thinking, and genuinely reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their national and collective security policies,” he said.
Lin also defended Beijing’s nuclear development, saying its nuclear capacity remained “at the minimum level needed for national security”.
“As long as no country uses or threatens to use nuclear weapons against China, they won’t face a threat from China’s nuclear weapons,” he said.
Lin also urged Tokyo, the only country to have been attacked with an atomic bomb, to “critically reassess its strategic security policies” and adhere to its three non-nuclear principles of never possessing, producing, or permitting atomic weapons on its territory.
Japanese newspaper Yomiuri reported that Washington and Tokyo intend to compile their first joint document on extended deterrence within the year.
The document would include Washington’s commitment to use its nuclear weapons and other abilities to bolster deterrence around Japan, as well as outline the conditions that would prompt US retaliation in defence of Japan, the report said.
