Washington —

China has questioned Japan’s latest analysis of the threat posed by Beijing to the Indo-Pacific region, calling it hyped threats and false accusations.

Japanese media said China’s military actions were described as posing the “biggest strategic challenge” in the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s annual diplomatic blue book released on Tuesday. An official English version has not yet been released.

The Blue Book reportedly condemns China’s actions in the South China Sea and its attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and South China Sea.

At the same time, according to Japanese media reports, Japan stated for the first time since 2019 that it seeks to establish a “mutually beneficial relationship” with China “based on common strategic interests.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian dismissed Japan’s criticism at a press conference on Tuesday. “Japan used the same false accusations and ‘China threat’ hype against China in its 2024 Diplomatic Blue Book,” he said.

We urge Japan to change its wrong approach, stop inciting group confrontation, and earnestly commit to developing China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations, and promote the construction of a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship suitable for the new era.”

Yuki Tatsumi, director of the Japan Program at the Stimson Center in Washington, said: “Japan’s concerns about China’s military and paramilitary behavior have intensified over the past few years due to the acceleration of Beijing’s aggressive behavior in the eastern and southern China Sea.”

“In addition, Tokyo remains wary of Beijing’s increasingly hostile and aggressive rhetoric and behavior toward Taiwan,” she continued.

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin may meet in Hawaii in early May, the Japan Times reported Thursday, citing unnamed Japanese officials.

Kihara and Austin will discuss establishing a proposed allied command and control structure and an agency to determine the types of weapons the two countries will jointly develop and produce, the report said. The plans were announced at a bilateral summit in Washington on April 10.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) announced on Tuesday that it will conduct a naval deployment including six surface ships, submarines and two air forces starting on May 3 to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

The deployment included visits to more than a dozen countries including the United States, the Philippines, India, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, the Marshall Islands, Fiji and Palau. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said the purpose of the move was to “strengthen cooperation with allied partner navies through exercises.”

Daniel Snyder, a lecturer in international policy and East Asian studies at Stanford University, said that while Tokyo is strengthening its defenses and worried about Beijing’s assertiveness, especially in its relationship with Moscow, its mention in the diplomatic blue book of wanting to build ties with Beijing reflects Japan’s manner. Tokyo’s balanced approach to China.

“The Blue Book reflects a balance between, to some extent, warning China not to do things that undermine regional order, but also making it clear that Japan is really not interested in a certain type of behavior,” Snyder said. Comprehensive confrontation,” including economic warfare.

As for China, it tends to view “any attempts by South Korea and Japan to engage and improve relations as a sign of weakness,” Snyder continued.

China, Japan and South Korea plan to hold their first trilateral talks since 2019 in May. They will meet in Seoul ahead of the Washington-Seoul-Tokyo trilateral summit expected in July.