China scolds US and Japan after Quad meeting to discuss security, influence in the region

China has swiped world leaders over “erroneous” comments made regarding the superpower and its influence in the Pacific at this week’s Quad meeting in Tokyo.

Chinese officials have swiped leaders in the US and Japan over comments made regarding the superpower and its influence in the Pacific at this week’s Quad meeting in Tokyo.

Japan’s envoy in Beijing was summoned for allowing “negative and erroneous words and deeds concerning China” take place at the Quad.

“China made solemn representations, expressing strong dissatisfaction and serious concerns,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Adding to the tension, Japanese officials said they detected Chinese and Russian military planes flying jointly over the Sea of Japan and East China Sea as the leaders met. The country’s defence minister labelled the gesture “provocative” in an address after the conclusion of the Quad talks.

Anthony Albanese, while revealing he had been congratulated by the Chinese Premier after his election win, wasted no time in dressing down the superpower, declaring it is “China that has changed, not Australia” as tensions between the nations build over the CCP’s growing influence in the Solomon Islands.

After years of strained diplomatic relations between the two countries, the incoming Prime Minister told the Quad meeting his government, on behalf of Australia, would seek good relations with all countries – but would not be soft on China.

In his address, Mr Albanese urged Beijing to lift trade tariffs it imposed on Australian goods such as barley, wine, coal and seafood.

Japan’s envoy in Beijing was criticised for allowing ‘negative and erroneous words and deeds concerning China’ take place at the Quad.

“Australia seeks good relations with all countries,” Mr Albanese said in Tokyo.

“But it’s not Australia that’s changed, China has. It is China that has placed sanctions on Australia.

“There is no justification for doing that. And that’s why they should be removed.”

Mr Albanese on Tuesday confirmed Australia will host next year’s meeting of the Quad, which Beijing has long accused of being another attempt to “contain” China.

Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden confirmed the US was prepared to “get involved militarily” to defend Taiwan if China did make good on its threats to invade.

Party mouthpiece The China Daily blasted Mr Biden’s comments after he declared his “commitment” to defend Taiwan if it was invaded by Beijing.

“His remarks once again highlight Washington … clings to the dregs of its Cold War mentality like an alcoholic nursing the final drops in his last bottle,” the China Daily wrote, declaring Japan was a “tool” for the US to exert influence close to home.

“Even though Tokyo is well aware that the Quad will make Japan a tool, along with India and Australia, for Washington to threaten China’s security at the costs of regional peace and stability, it was still happy to host the Quad summit on Tuesday.”

It came as China’s People‘s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command conducted a combat-readiness patrol in the waters and airspace around Taiwan.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said the patrol was launched as a warning against recent US support for “Taiwan independence” forces.

China has made clear it distrusts the Quad, expressing “serious concerns” over the alliance as tension builds in the Pacific.

Military officials confirmed China launched a patrol as a warning against recent US support for “Taiwan independence” forces.

“Taiwan is a part of China, and the PLA Eastern Theater Command is determined to safeguard national sovereignty and regional peace and stability,” the spokesman said on Wednesday.

State-backed media outlet The People’s Daily reported China has recently organised “different branches of the forces for joint patrols and live-fire training exercises” in Taiwanese territory.

A joint statement by the so-called Quad bloc avoided any direct mention of China’s growing military power in the region, but left little doubt about where its concerns lie.

The carefully worded document also made reference to the conflict in Ukraine, but without offering any joint position on the Russian invasion, which India has pointedly declined to condemn.

The Quad’s other members have been less coy about their view that a strong response to Russia’s war is needed, one that would deter other countries, including China.

“As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is shaking the fundamental principles of the international order... (we) confirmed that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force will never be tolerated anywhere, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region,” Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, using another term for the Asia-Pacific.

Originally published as China scolds US and Japan after Quad meeting to discuss security, influence in the region