Agence France Presse

Beijing, February 20:

Beijing today expressed “serious concern” about a US and Japanese statement which described Taiwan as a common security issue amid China’s military build-up.

The two allies declared yesterday that easing tensions in the Taiwan Strait was part of their “common strategic objectives”. Their joint statement was released in Washington after a top ministerial meeting of the US-Japan Security Consultative Committee.

The US and Japan also urged China, which has a considerable military force amassed on the Taiwan Strait opposite the island, “to improve transparency of its military affairs.” A Chinese foreign ministry spoke-sman today confirmed a ministry statement carried by Hong Kong-based newspaper Wen Wei Po that China is “seriously concerned” over the matter.

“The Chinese government is against the US and Japan issuing any joint statement over Taiwan, which interferes with China’s internal affairs and hurts China’s sovereignty,” the foreign ministry statement said. The statement said the US-Japan alliance is a historical arrangement that dates back to the Cold War and should not exceed its jurisdiction.