US threatens China over territorial disputes, cites sanctions on Russia as example. - Senkaku/Diaoyu issue

The US gave a strong warning to China not to escalate territorial tensions in the Asia-Pacific region if it doesn’t want to face American retaliation. In his statement, a US official used sanctions on Russia over Crimea’s accession as an example.
Although it’s difficult to gauge China’s response at this point, more pressure needs to be brought to bear for them to abide by diplomatic principles for settling territorial disputes, came the advice from the US assistant secretary of state for East Asia, Daniel Russel, speaking to a meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Regarding how to make China comply, the top official had a ready solution, saying that the recent sanctions imposed by the US and EU on Russia should have “a chilling effect on anyone in China who might contemplate the Crimea annexation as a model,” Reuters reports. 

Russel believes that the added effect of punishing China in this way would be compounded by its economic interdependence with the United States. But these remarks got a prompt reaction from a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, who accused Russel of confusing two different issues............http://rt.com/news/us-threats-china-sanctions-385/
4/4/14
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• U.S. vows to defend Japan against China. -Kerry and Japanese FM Fumio Kishida (video)

• US Official Asks China to Clarify or Adjust Sea Claims. -Daniel R. Russel (Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs)

• Japan revises teaching manuals to claim disputed territories...

• Japan issues video promoting its Diaoyu Islands claims. -Senkaku/Diaoyu issue, video in 12 languages

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• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference on April 4, 2014...

..........Q: Daniel Russel, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs told a congressional hearing the other day that the Crimea model could serve as a precedent for China to obtain territories in the South China Sea by force and coercion. Countries in Southeast Asia are worried about that. The Chinese side should not doubt the US commitment to defend its Asian allies, and should demonstrate its commitment to peacefully resolving territorial disputes. What is China's comment?

A: Be it the issue of Ukraine or the issue of the South China Sea, China has many times expressed its positions. Why must the US official mention the two things in the same breath, and make an issue of China? You may ask him........


Q: The Japanese government released the Diplomatic Bluebook 2014 today, staking its claim to the Diaoyu Islands, accusing China of making unilateral assertions in the East China Sea and South China Sea inconsistent with international law and demanding China to increase its military transparency. What is China's comment?

A: Japan's newly released Diplomatic Bluebook maliciously hypes up the so-called "China-threat", willfully smears China and makes unreasonable accusation against China in disregard of basic facts. China expresses serious concerns about and strong dissatisfaction with that.

Peace and stability is the trend of the times. To uphold regional peace and stability is an irresistible trend that accords with the will of the people. Japan goes against the trend of the times, stirs up tension and confrontation and makes excuses for its domestic political agenda of arms expansion, war preparation and breaking away from the post-war order. All these have aroused high vigilance of its Asian neighbors and the international community.

It is no one else but Japan that stirs up troubles and changes the status quo of the Diaoyu Islands and the East China Sea with unilateral actions. Whatever means Japan employs to mislead the public opinion, it cannot change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China, nor will it shake China's firm resolve of safeguarding national territorial sovereignty. We urge the Japanese side to adopt a correct attitude and stop all the provocative words and deeds that are detrimental to China's sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests.

Q: Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced the outcomes of its reviewing of elementary school textbooks to be used for the next academic year, which describe the Diaoyu Islands as "integral parts of Japanese territory". What is China's comment? Has China considered lodging protest with the Japanese side?

A: We have been requiring the Japanese side to face up to history with honesty and teach the next generation with a correct conception of history. The Japanese side should tell younger generations in textbooks of what is true about the Diaoyu Islands, that is, the Diaoyu Islands that belong to China are illegally snatched by Japan. We require the Japanese side to stop provocations on relevant issue.

Q: Analysts say that Japan's relaxation of the three principles on arms export will enable the US and Japan to enhance defense cooperation in arms sharing and other aspects, which may bring more uncertainties to issues of the East China Sea and South China Sea. What is China's comment?

A: What policy Japan pursues in the military and security fields has a bearing on the security environment and strategic stability of the region. It is also related to where Japan is headed, hence high attention from us. We hope that the Japanese side could draw hard lessons from history, take seriously the security concerns of its Asian neighbors, conform to the trend of times, follow a path of peaceful development and take concrete actions to win back the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community........http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/t1144474.shtml4/4/14
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