In a sharp rebuke on Monday, China accused the Quad nations—comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia—of "scaremongering, inciting antagonism and confrontation" with the intent of hindering development in the Asia Pacific region.
Beijing's statement emerged mere hours after the foreign ministers of the Quad met in Tokyo, where they reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, aspiring for a region devoid of domination and coercion.
During the Tokyo meeting, the Quad foreign ministers underscored their vision for a balanced Indo-Pacific, free from coercion.
"Quad keeps chanting the slogan of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and all the while, it has been scaremongering, inciting antagonism and confrontation, and holding back other countries’ development," stated Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
This sentiment, according to Lin, contradicts the prevailing trend of pursuing peace, development, cooperation, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific, suggesting that such tactics are unlikely to garner widespread support.
Lin stressed that China advocates for cooperation between nations and regional initiatives that bolster peace, stability, and prosperity, rather than fostering exclusive alliances that undermine regional trust and cooperation.
He reiterated China's steadfast defense of its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, committed to resolving bilateral maritime issues through dialogue and consultation.
Accusations of military provocation
In a pointed critique aimed at the US, Lin accused some external countries of frequently dispatching advanced military aircraft and vessels to the South China Sea, exacerbating regional tensions and forming various alliances that incite division and confrontation.
"China firmly opposes the bloc confrontation they incite in the name of 'anti-coercion', and the imposition of their house rules in the name of maintaining order," Lin stated, urging countries outside the region to respect the efforts of regional nations towards peace and stability and to cease stoking tensions.
In their joint statement, the Quad foreign ministers delivered a clear message to China, advocating for the maintenance of a free and open rules-based international order, and upholding principles of freedom, human rights, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, and Australia's Penny Wong, the meeting conveyed the Quad's serious concerns over the situations in the East and South China Seas, expressing strong opposition to any "unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion".
China's response to Quad's position
Lin reiterated China's belief that regional cooperation and initiatives should foster development, stability, and prosperity, instead of creating exclusive groups that damage mutual trust and cooperation.
He reaffirmed China's commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and maritime interests, resolving disputes through dialogue and consultations.
In an apparent reference to the US, Lin accused certain countries of sending military vessels to the region to sow discord and conflict, creating alliances that threaten regional peace and stability.
He criticised these actions as the most significant threat to regional stability, asserting that China firmly opposes the coercion and confrontation these countries incite under the guise of protection.
Rebuking the US-Japan joint statement
Lin also condemned the recent joint statement by the US and Japan, which accused China's foreign policy of attempting to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others.
Lin dismissed the statement as lacking factual basis and criticized its framing and attacks on China's domestic and foreign policies, terming it as gross interference in China’s internal affairs.
Lin said that issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet are purely China’s internal affairs, and any external interference is unacceptable.
He condemned the US and Japan's statements as propagating the “China threat” narrative, which he argued was intended to create regional scare through talk of tensions, while accusing them of seeking to revive Cold War-era deterrence and escalating nuclear tensions.
Lin accused Japan and the US of strengthening the Cold War relic of “extended deterrence” and developing the so-called “nuclear deterrence,” actions he believes will escalate regional tensions and trigger risks of nuclear proliferation and conflict.
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