Beijing, Aug 8:
China has lodged a “serious diplomatic” protest with Japan over its latest defence white paper, which portrayed Beijing as Tokyo’s “greatest strategic challenge” and made “brazen comments” on Taiwan, further escalating tensions between the two countries.
“The white paper once again targeted China with groundless accusations, rehashing the so-called ‘China threat’ and grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs with brazen comments on China’s Taiwan region,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jing said on Wednesday. “We deplore and firmly reject this, and have lodged serious representations with Japan,” he said while answering questions over Japan’s new defence white paper.
Defending recurring military drills around Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory, Lin said, “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. How to resolve it is a matter for the Chinese ourselves and Japan is in no place to interfere.” About disputed islands in the East China Sea, he said, “Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have been China’s territory since ancient times.” The islands, called Senkaku and Diaoyu Dao, are controlled by Tokyo.