China has indirectly expressed its displeasure at the beginning of a new era of strategic partnership between India and Japan. After the announcement of increasing cooperation on critical minerals, supply chain and economic security in the 16th annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Beijing said that cooperation between the countries should not be to target any ‘third country’.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that the aim of regional cooperation should be to enhance peace, stability and mutual trust, and not to harm the interests of any third party. He also said that the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chain is a shared responsibility of all countries.
Objection to creating ‘Exclusive Small Groupings’
China also objected to the creation of ‘exclusive small groupings’. Although he did not name any organization, his statement is believed to be a reference to strategic groups like QUAD, which includes both India and Japan. China said that such small groups should not promote conflict and division in the region.
Emphasis also on developing supply chain
In fact, during the summit held in New Delhi, India and Japan have agreed to give new impetus to cooperation in areas like critical minerals, semiconductors, supply chain resilience and economic security. Both countries also emphasized on developing reliable and diversified supply chains.
Work towards reducing dependence on China
This reaction of China has come at a time when many countries of the world are working towards reducing dependence on China for important minerals and high-tech supply chains. In such a situation, the increasing cooperation between India and Japan and the expansion of strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region is considered to increase the concern of Beijing.
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