Japan's attempt to mislead public opinion by playing up China's legitimate operation in the Western Pacific can never work, Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.
Zhang's remarks came after Japan repeatedly tracked and monitored the Liaoning Carrier Task Group (CTG Liaoning) during recent training in the Western Pacific. Japan's Ministry of Defense has disclosed details including the task group's vessel numbers, training location and sorties flown by ship-borne aircraft. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Japan would continue to closely monitor the movements of the Chinese carrier task group and stay on alert.
"The Liaoning Carrier Task Group is conducting planned training in the relevant waters of the Western Pacific. This operation is not targeted at any specific country or entity, but aimed at enhancing the combat capabilities of the CTG through far-seas training. During the course, the Japanese side repeatedly tracked and monitored it, and the Chinese CTG responded to the situation in accordance with laws and regulations. It is clear to people with sights that Japan's playing up China's legitimate operation, and their attempts to stoke tension to mislead public opinion can never work," said Zhang.
Japan's attempt to mislead public opinion can never work: spokesman
China urges the Republic of Korea (ROK) to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and not engage in any form of official exchanges with China's Taiwan region, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Tuesday.
Lin made the remarks in response to a query about the recent visit to Taiwan by a delegation of cross-party ROK parliamentarians. China has always firmly opposed any form of official exchanges between countries that have diplomatic ties with China and China's Taiwan region, he stressed.
"In 1992, when China and the ROK established diplomatic relations, the joint communique issued by the two sides clearly stipulated that the ROK recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing China. The ROK respects China's position that there is only one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. Since the beginning of this year, the ROK has publicly reiterated on several occasions that its stance of respecting the one-China principle remains unchanged. The Chinese side has made solemn representations to the ROK side over this," said Lin . "We urge the ROK to act from the perspective of the overall situation of China-ROK ties, keep its commitments, earnestly abide by the one-China principle, not engage in any form of official exchanges with China's Taiwan region, avoid being exploited by 'Taiwan independence' separatists or send wrong signals to them, and take concrete actions to safeguard the healthy and stable development of China-ROK ties," Lin said.
China urges ROK to earnestly abide by one-China principle: spokesman
