Q: On April 16 EST, US and Japanese leaders released a joint statement after their meeting, expressing concern over issues relating to Taiwan, Diaoyu Dao, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and the South China Sea. Does China have any comment?

A: Taiwan and Diaoyu Dao are both Chinese territory. Issues relating to Hong Kong and Xinjiang are purely China's internal affairs. China has indisputable sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea and waters around them. The US-Japan Joint Leaders'Statement grossly interferes in China's domestic affairs and severely violates basic norms governing international relations. China deplores and rejects it. We have stated our solemn position to the US and Japan through the diplomatic channel.

While talking about "free and open", the US and Japan are actually ganging up to form cliques and fanning bloc confrontation. This anachronistic move runs counter to the aspiration for peace, development and cooperation shared by the overwhelming majority of countries in the region and beyond. It will only enable the world to see with increasing clarity the detrimental nature of the US-Japan alliance, which attempts to undermine regional peace and stability.

We urge the US and Japan to take China's concern seriously, abide by the one-China principle, and immediately stop meddling in China's domestic affairs and harming Chinese interests. China will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.