South Korea’s Deputy Foreign Minister Choi stayed away from the issue of China and stressed the need to hold talks with North Korea.
Deputy Foreign Ministers of three countries met in Tokyo (PTI)
The United States, Japan and South Korea have reiterated their commitment to cooperation on North Korea’s nuclear disarmament and other regional threats. US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman holds talks with Japan’s Deputy Secretary of State Takiyo Mori and South Korea’s Choi Jong-kun in Tokyo. He said that their alliance remains the axis of peace, security and prosperity.
The Deputy Foreign Ministers stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and flight in the South China Sea and respecting international law. He opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. “We will not be left without responding to those challenges when countries act prejudicial to American interests or threaten our partners and allies,” Sherman said.
South Korea in dilemma over US-China dispute
The US and Japan have expressed their concerns over China’s claim over disputed areas in the South China Sea and the Senkaku Islands controlled by Japan. China also claims the Senkaku Islands and calls them Diaoyu. “It is imperative that the international community unite and raise its voice against China’s unilateral attempts to forcefully change the status quo,” Mori said. Also, I look forward to cooperation between the three countries.
At Wednesday’s joint news conference, South Korea’s deputy foreign minister Choi stayed away from the Chinese issue and stressed the need for talks with North Korea. The deteriorating relations between the US and China has put South Korea in a state of shambles as on the one hand the US is its main security ally, while on the other hand China is the largest trading partner.
China accused of ‘cold war mentality’
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian in Beijing accused the US and Japan of having a Cold War mindset, deliberately engaging in group confrontation and trying to build an anti-China siege. “The United States and Japan must immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and undermine regional peace and stability,” he said. He said that China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.
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