Washington's tactic to fan confrontation 'bound to fail'

China on Tuesday slammed a joint statement issued after a leaders' meeting of Japan and the United States, saying that Tokyo and Washington have insisted on manipulating China-related issues to attack and smear China regardless of serious concerns from China and other regional countries.

The moves grossly interfered in China's domestic affairs, violated international law and basic norms governing international relations, and undermined China's sovereignty, security and development interests, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

"China strongly rejects this and has lodged solemn representations," he told reporters at a regular news conference in Beijing.

In the statement issued during Joe Biden's first trip to Asia as US president, the two allies committed to advance a "free and open Indo-Pacific" and concurred to work together to strengthen deterrence in the region.

Wang said Japan and the US have misrepresented facts and truth and ignored the history of relevant issues, calling them the real threat to regional peace and stability.

People in Asia-Pacific countries cherish the hard-earned peace and development and will never allow military blocs or bloc confrontations to occur in this region, he added.

The US' attempt of creating political and military confrontations in the Asia-Pacific by ganging up with some countries is doomed to fail, he said.

The spokesman also noted that Japan's moves in the military and security fields have always been closely followed by its Asian neighbors as well as the international community, given the aggression of its militarism in modern history.

However, Japan has increased its military budget for ten consecutive years and has often made an issue out of its neighbors to justify its military buildup. It also has a large amount of sensitive nuclear matter exceeding its actual needs in the long term.

'The only way'

"There is a reason for its Asian neighbors and the international community to question Japan's security policy," said Wang, urging the Japanese side to stick to peaceful development and act with prudence in the military and security fields.

"This is the right path and the only way to avoid repeating its past mistakes."

The spokesman stressed that as a builder of world peace, contributor to global development and champion of international order, China will defend its sovereignty, security and development interests as well as be committed to safeguarding peace, stability and lasting prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.