April 17, 2021

China on Saturday expressed firm opposition to a joint statement made by the U.S. and Japan on issues relating to China's internal affairs and reaffirmed the country's determination to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga issued the joint statement on Friday, following their meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C. It noted their plan for the "Indo-Pacific" and their exchange of views on the impact of China's actions in the region. They also expressed concerns over issues relating to the East China Sea, the South China Sea and China's Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. 

In response, the Chinese Embassy in the United States issued a statement that said the comments by the U.S. and Japan were beyond the range of bilateral relations.

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