China on Tuesday criticized Japan for referring to the stability around Taiwan for the first time in Defense of Japan 2021 white paper.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press briefing that Japan has been recently grossly interfering in China's internal affairs, and making groundless accusations regarding China's normal national defense and military activities. Japan is also pointing fingers at China's legitimate maritime activities and playing up the so-called "China threat," which is wrong and irresponsible.
China deplores and rejects this, Zhao said.
Stressing that Taiwan is part of China and the Taiwan question is purely its internal affair, he said China never allows interference in the Taiwan question in any form by any country.
"China must and will be reunified. A complete reunification of China is most beneficial to regional peace and stability," Zhao said.
The Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory, he said, noting that by conducting patrol and law enforcement activities in waters off the Diaoyu Islands, China is exercising its legal right.
Zhao said the Coast Guard Law is just a routine piece of domestic legislation, not targeted at any specific country. It is totally in line with international law and international practice. In fact, many countries, including Japan, have enacted similar laws and regulations long before China, he added.
He also said the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" aims to stoke bloc confrontation and create cliques for geopolitical games, which marks the comeback of a Cold War mentality and retrogression and "should be swept into the dustbin of history."
"We once again urge Japan to approach the relevant issues with the right mentality and show respect for China's sovereignty and sincerity in upholding regional peace and stability," Zhao said.
