TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Chinese Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday (June 4) blasted the U.S., Japan, and South Korea’s joint statement on Taiwan, calling them "consecutive erroneous statements."
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, Japan Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and South Korea Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik held a trilateral ministerial meeting on June 2 in Singapore. The three officials said there was no change in their nations’ position on Taiwan and that regional peace was “an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community.” They also called for a peaceful resolution to cross-strait issues.
The Chinese embassy said these comments “interfere in China's internal affairs and maliciously smear and attack China” and lodged “solemn representations with South Korea,” per Yonhap News Agency.
On Monday, the Chinese foreign ministry claimed the trilateral defense ministers' meeting and trilateral vice foreign minister-level dialogue were intended to "deliberately attack and vilify China."
The joint statement also opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific and called out China’s “dangerous and aggressive behavior” in the South China Sea. The three ministers stressed the importance of abiding by international law, including the freedom of navigation and overflight.