Japan, China exchange barbs over Beijing's indo-Pacific actions

In the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s annual Diplomatic Bluebook which was published Tuesday, China's military moves are described as posing "the greatest strategic challenge," according to Japanese media. An official English version has not been published, reported Voice of America.

The Bluebook reportedly condemns China's actions in the South China Sea and its attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Sea, the news portal reported.

Last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian negated Japan's criticisms and said during a press briefing: "During their meeting in San Francisco last November, the leaders of China and Japan reaffirmed commitment to comprehensively promoting a strategic relationship of mutual benefit and provided crucial political guidance to the improvement of bilateral relations. Japan has resorted to the same old false accusations against China and hype of “China threat” in its 2024 Diplomatic Bluebook."

"We firmly oppose this and Japan’s meddling in China’s domestic affairs. We urge Japan to change its wrong course of actions, stop stoking bloc confrontation, truly commit itself to advancing a strategic relationship of mutual benefit with China and work to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era," he said.

Yuki Tatsumi, director of the Japan Program at the Washington-based Stimson Center, told VOA, "Japan's concerns about Chinese behavior, both military and paramilitary, have been intensified for the last few years due to the acceleration of Beijing's aggressive behaviour in East and South China Sea."

She continued, "In addition, Tokyo has been put on alert about Beijing's increasingly hostile and aggressive rhetoric and behaviour toward Taiwan."