Beijing has expressed strong dissatisfaction with Tokyo over the passage of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Ikazuchi through the Taiwan Strait.
On Friday, China’s Ministry of National Defense described the move as a “deliberate provocation.” In a statement, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said the action by the Japanese warship sends a misleading signal to pro-independence forces in Taiwan. He warned that such provocations would trigger strong reactions among the Chinese public and further strengthen China’s resolve to counter any such moves. Zhang also urged Japan to adhere to the One-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between the two countries. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army also condemned the incident. In a press release, spokesperson Shi Chenghua stated that Chinese naval and air forces closely tracked and monitored the Japanese destroyer throughout its transit of the strait.
Source & Photo: Xinhua News Agency.