The Chinese government has expressed dissatisfaction with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida after hearing report that the two officials brought the issue of West Philippine Sea (WPS) at sidelines of G20 Summit and APEC Ministerial Meeting. The Japanese Prime Minister reportedly expressed concern on China’s activities in WPS with EU, the UK and Germany leaders, while the Japanese minister raised the issue during a meeting with Thai Foreign Minister.
Japanese Prime Minister Abe earlier said that he will raise the WPS issue in upcoming regional and group meetings: the just concluded G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey; APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Manila; and ASEAN and East Asian meetings in Malaysia. Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping will both attend the APEC meeting in Manila.
“The Chinese side is dissatisfied with what the Japanese side has done. Japan is not a party concerned in the South China Sea issue. Instead of watching its words and deeds, Japan has been hyping up the South China Sea issue,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said in a press conference today. “Japan’s relevant words and deeds run counter to the momentum of improving bilateral ties and undercut regional stability and development.”
“We urge the Japanese side to stop making groundless accusations on the South China Sea issue, abide by the four political documents between China and Japan, implement the four-point principled agreement reached between the two sides last year, work with China towards the same direction, and ensure the continuous improvement of bilateral ties with concrete actions,” the Chinese spokesman added.