Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Beijing opposes any attempt at political manipulation by other countries, as well as actions that provoke or escalate conflicts, harm strategic security and the interests of other nations.

“While Japan and the Philippines have the right to develop normal relations with other countries, they should not bring trilateral cooperation into a regional confrontation or do so at the expense of the interests of third parties,” she stressed.

China reiterated that the Taiwan issue is an internal matter and any outside interference is unacceptable.

“The greatest danger to cross-strait peace comes from separatist acts” and external support for them, she asserted.

Mao noted that related countries should respect the One China principle to preserve peace and stability in the region.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a speech to the U.S. Congress that the greatest challenge facing the world comes from China, and its current foreign posture and military actions are unprecedented.

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