Moderate Voices Criticize Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook... "Exaggerating China Threat and Interfering in Internal Affairs"

Wang Wenbin, Spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs [Photo by Yonhap News]

Japan once again asserted its sovereignty over Dokdo in its 2021 Diplomatic Bluebook, while China strongly condemned Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook.

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pointed out at a regular briefing on the 27th, "Japan's new Diplomatic Bluebook greatly exaggerates the so-called China threat, maliciously attacks China, and unjustifiably interferes in China's internal affairs."

He continued, "China firmly opposes this and has already lodged a stern protest with Japan through diplomatic channels."

Regarding the Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyudao in Chinese), a disputed territory between China and Japan, he stated, "Diaoyudao and its affiliated islands are Chinese territory, and Chinese Coast Guard patrols them in accordance with the law."

Spokesperson Wang said, "Currently, China-Japan relations face a serious test," and urged, "Japan should correct its wrongful actions and work to build stable relations with China." He added, "Japan described China-Japan relations as one of the most important bilateral relationships in its Diplomatic Bluebook. What we want is not just words but actions."

In its 2021 Diplomatic Bluebook released that day, Japan pointed to China's military expansion and maritime advances in the East and South China Seas as "a strong concern for the security of the region and the international community, including Japan." It criticized China's Coast Guard Law, which permits the use of weapons by the Coast Guard, as problematic under international law, and claimed that the intrusion of Chinese Coast Guard vessels into Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands violates international law.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.