China on Monday reiterated its stance on the joint statement made by the U.S. and Japan, once again urged the two countries to stop manipulating issues related to China’s internal affairs and contribute more to regional peace and stability.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga issued the joint statement on Friday with “concerns” over China’s internal affairs. China expressed its firm opposition immediately after the statement released.
On Monday’s press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated three points regarding the joint statement.
Wang began by refuting the rule boasted by the U.S. and Japan, claiming there is only one system, namely the United Nations (UN)-centered international system, and only one set of rules, the basic norms of international relations based on the UN Charter.
The U.S. and Japan cannot represent the international community, as Wang pointed out, adding the two countries are neither qualified to define the international order nor qualified to impose its standard on others.
“They are actually ganging up to form cliques and fanning bloc confrontation while talking about free and open,” noted Wang, stressing the move made by the U.S. and Japan are the real threat to regional peace and stability.
The world needs unity rather than separation, equality rather than hegemony, and cooperation rather than confrontation, said Wang.
Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (L) and U.S. President Joe Biden hold a joint news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 16, 2021. /Reuters
Regarding human rights issues, the spokesperson stressed that instead of interfering in China’s internal affairs in the name of human rights, the U.S. and Japan should spend more time reflecting on its wrongdoings of invading other countries and infringing upon other citizen’s human rights.
Wang was referring to the invasive wars committed by Japan to Asian countries, especially to China in the 1930s and 1940s, and the U.S.’s so-called engagement policies in other countries. Both led to millions of death and abysmal disaster to people of those countries.
Stating that the U.S. and Japan own debt to the Chinese people as well as people around the world on human rights issues, Wang said their attempt to destabilize other countries and contain its development dooms to fail.
He urged Japan to face up to the serious concerns lodged by neighboring countries and the international community and immediately recall its decision to release nuclear polluted water to the ocean.
A bird view of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Fukushima, Japan, April 16, 2021. /Reuters
Lastly, the spokesperson also reiterated China’s stance on international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19.
According to Wang, the two countries should stop their political manipulation on this issue, show more respect to life and science while take more pragmatic actions to advance international cooperation rather than making trouble.
