China protests Japan defence paper's Taiwan remarks, 'China threat' label

China has lodged a diplomatic protest with Japan over its latest defence white paper, which describes Beijing as Tokyo's "greatest strategic challenge" and makes comments on Taiwan that China says interfere in its internal affairs.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jing said on Wednesday that the white paper "once again targeted China with groundless accusations, rehashing the so-called 'China threat' and grossly interfering in China's internal affairs with brazen comments on China's Taiwan region." He added that China deplores and firmly rejects the document and has lodged "serious representations" with Japan.

Defending China's recurring military drills around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory, Mr. Lin said, "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair. How to resolve it is a matter for the Chinese ourselves and Japan is in no place to interfere."

He also reiterated China's claim over the disputed islands in the East China Sea, saying, "Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have been China's territory since ancient times." The islands, called Senkaku by Japan and Diaoyu Dao by China, are controlled by Tokyo. The Chinese coast guard periodically conducts patrols around them to assert Beijing's sovereignty.

The white paper, approved by Japan's cabinet on Tuesday, said China's growing military actions are Japan's top security challenge and "must be addressed through overall national strength and cooperation with allies and like-minded nations." The nearly 600-page document contains a detailed assessment of what it describes as an increasingly volatile regional security environment.

Coinciding with the release of the white paper, Japan showcased its new anti-ship missile, with a range of about 1,000 km. The missile test brings Tokyo a step closer to fielding an indigenous family of long-range stand-off missiles that could be deployed from land, sea and air, according to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.

In his preface, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi expressed hope that the white paper would "deepen the public's understanding of Japan's defence and security, and serve as an opportunity for people to reflect on how security is linked to the future of every citizen." He wrote, "As the security environment rapidly intensifies, what is needed now is to enhance resilience to crises across the entire Indo-Pacific region," pledging to build and expand "a multi-layered network of allies and like-minded nations" to improve deterrence.

Tension between China and Japan escalated in November after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi remarked in parliament that a Taiwan contingency could be a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, potentially leading to action from the country's defence forces in support of the United States. Her remarks angered China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory.

The white paper also said, "Stability around Taiwan is important for the international community, and our country needs to keep a close watch on the situation." On nuclear weapons, it reiterated Japan's long-held three non-nuclear principles, saying Tokyo continues to adhere to them "as policy guidelines." However, Mr. Koizumi has appeared to set the stage for a review of the country's decades-old pledge not to produce, possess or host nuclear arms, saying that the debate over nuclear weapons is one "we cannot avoid."