China blasts Japan's repeated promotion of 'free and open Indo-Pacific' concept

China blasted on Thursday Japan's repeated promotion of its "free and open Indo-Pacific" concept, saying it goes against the shared aspiration of regional countries for peace, development, and cooperation and will never win genuine recognition.

Since the beginning of this year, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has peddled the new version of the "free and open Indo-Pacific". Japanese officials lobbied for this concept during their visits to the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, and other countries.

Takaichi also stated to build a "free and open Indo-Pacific" during her recent visit to India.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun pointed out that Japan is chanting freedom and openness while clinging to confrontation and antagonism in mind, and such a concept does not live up to its own claims.

What the Asia-Pacific needs is stability and cooperation, not turbulence or division, Guo stressed.

In the face of tactics designed to sow division and provoke confrontation, it is more imperative than ever for regional countries to stay clear-eyed, unite as one and stay on the right track of Asia-Pacific cooperation, enhance mutual trust through dialogue and consultation, and uphold tranquility with mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.