South China Morning Post
May 6, 2022

China hits out at Japanese PM’s five-nation tour of ‘confrontation’

Beijing has accused Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of “provoking confrontation” between China and major powers after Tokyo and London signed a landmark pact to “rapidly accelerate” defence and security ties.

On the final leg of his five-nation Asian and European tour, Kishida signed a reciprocal access agreement with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday and – in a veiled swipe at China – vowed to help realise a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian accused Kishida of fanning anti-China sentiment on his trip to Britain, Italy, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, saying the visits were an attempt to expand Japan’s military power – something prohibited under its pacifist constitution.

“…What Japan is doing is [trying to] find an excuse for its own expansion of military power, and to undermine the trust and cooperation of countries in the region.”

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CGTN
May 6, 2022

Wang Yi: U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy not in interests of regional countries

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy does not serve the interests of regional countries.

Wang made the remarks during a virtual meeting with Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s coordinator for cooperation with China and coordinating minister.

Noting that East Asia has already had in place a regional cooperation structure with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the center, the Chinese diplomat said that is the key to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

The Indo-Pacific Strategy pursued by the United States runs counter to the trend of the times and is not in the common and long-term interests of the countries in the region, he said.

By activating the Five Eyes, an alliance among Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom as well as the U.S., Washington is in essence advocating the outdated Cold War mentality, Wang explained.

By building the QUAD with Japan, India and Australia, the U.S. is creating new group confrontation in the region, he continued.

And by promoting the AUKUS with Britain and Australia, the U.S. is provoking an arms race in the region, said Wang.

Released by the White House in February, the Indo-Pacific Strategy of the Biden administration is widely believed to intend to build a wall of containment around China.

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“Ukraine may be East Asia tomorrow,” Kishida warned, likening Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a runaway province, to Ukraine, which Russia invaded on February 24.

Zhao said China firmly opposed Kishida’s assessment.

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CGTN
May 6, 2022

Vice FM: China bears no responsibility for Russia-Ukraine conflict

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said on Friday that China does not bear any responsibility for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stressing that the country is not a party involved in the conflict.

Addressing an online dialogue joined by think tanks from 20 countries worldwide, Le rebuked attempts by some countries to shift the blame of the Ukraine crisis to China.

“China is not involved in the conflict, still less the one who created it. So how could China be responsible?” Le asked.

Relations between China and Russia are built on the principle of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, he said.