Japan is 'playing with fire', says China

China yesterday warned Japan against “playing with fire” in the contested waters of the South China Sea, after Tokyo announced it may patrol alongside the US in the region

Beijing: China yesterday warned Japan against “playing with fire” in the contested waters of the South China Sea, after Tokyo announced it may patrol alongside the US in the region. China also sent fighter planes for the first time over a strait near Japan on Monday as part of a group of more than 40 jets headed to train in the West Pacific.

The move followed remarks by Japanese Defence Minister Tomomi Inada that Tokyo would increase its engagement in the SCS through joint training with the US Navy, exercises with regional navies and capacity-building assistance to coastal nations.

The Chinese defence ministry said the aim of the announcement was “to mess up the South China Sea situation and try to gain interests from the troubled waters.”

“If Japan wants to conduct any joint patrol or joint exercises in waters administered by China, it is just like playing with fire, and the Chinese military will not sit and watch,” said a ministry spokesman.

China worried about workers’ security
Beijing: China yesterday said it was highly concerned about the security of its workers involved in the $46 billion economic corridor passing through Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan province after a Baloch militant leader warned of attacks targetting the project. “We are concerned about the CEPC,” it said.

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