China has criticised the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” framework following the conclusion of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s three-day visit to India, during which New Delhi and Tokyo reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the vision.
On Friday, Yu Jing, China’s spokesperson in India, drew attention to remarks made a day earlier by Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Takaichi held bilateral discussions.
“The so-called concept of ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ goes against the regional countries’ shared aspirations for peace, development and cooperation, and will never win genuine recognition,” Guo said in response to a question on Takaichi statement.
“Safeguarding post-war international order and purposes and principles of the UN Charter is the foundation of the prosperity and stability in the Asia Pacific, as well as the shared responsibility of regional countries,” he said.
Guo added, “It is more imperative than ever for regional countries to uphold the right course of Asia-Pacific cooperation, work together to build an Asia Pacific that is prosperous, stable, open, interconnected, universally beneficial, inclusive, united and mutually supportive.”
Responding separately on Friday to Prime Minister Modi’s statement that India and Japan would deepen cooperation in critical minerals, Guo said such partnerships should neither be directed against any third country nor harm its interests.
“Still less should such cooperation be used to create exclusive ‘small blocs’ or stoke confrontation under the pretext of cooperation,” Guo said, as per the Chinese State Council Information office.
He said cooperation between countries should strengthen mutual understanding and trust across the region while contributing to peace and stability.
Guo further noted that ensuring the stability and security of global industrial and supply chains is a common responsibility for all nations, adding that countries should adopt an open and cooperative approach and make constructive contributions toward that objective.
The joint statement issued by India and Japan on Thursday also reflected shared concerns over developments in the South China Sea and East China Sea.
Although China was not named directly, both countries reiterated their “strong opposition to any unilateral actions that endanger the safety as well as freedom of navigation and to change the status quo by force or coercion”.
The statement also expressed serious concern over the increasing militarisation of disputed features, in an apparent reference to China's expanding military presence in the region.
As part of another effort viewed as addressing China's growing influence in Africa, India and Japan also discussed the formulation of the Strategic Outlook for Expanding Japan-India Cooperation in Africa.
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