Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced on Monday that China, Japan, and South Korea should send a clear signal to reorganize towards cooperation and resist "bullying and hegemony," in a clear criticism of the United States. These statements come at a time when tensions are rising as the United States seeks to establish closer ties with its allies Japan and South Korea to counter China's increasing regional influence.
Wang, who is the head of the Office of Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, spoke about the efforts to revitalize cooperation among the three neighboring countries during a forum organized by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, an agency established through an agreement between Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that he called on them to "strengthen the sense of strategic independence, maintain regional unity and stability, resist the return of a Cold War mentality, and free themselves from bullying and hegemony."
The ministry noted in a statement that while Wang did not mention the United States specifically, he said that "certain major countries outside the region" were attempting to replace unity with division in pursuit of geopolitical gains. Wang added, "If this trend is allowed to develop, it will not only seriously interfere with the smooth progress of trilateral cooperation but will also increase tension and confrontation in the region."
He emphasized the necessity of resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation, opposed to any statements or actions that could plunge the region into war.
