U.S.-Japan South China Sea Statement ‘Attacks and Smears China’: Beijing

U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba hold a joint press conference following talks, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 7, 2025. Mandel NGAN / AFP

Beijing on Monday said a joint statement by the United States and Japan that condemned its “provocative activities” in the contested South China Sea “attacks and smears” China.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, despite an international ruling in 2016 concluding its claims have no legal basis.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.