China warns India-Japan ties should not target third party amid maritime concerns

Published: July 03, 2026 05:28 pm IST — Beijing

Source: PTI

China stated on Friday (July 3, 2026) that bilateral cooperation between countries should not target any third party or undermine the interests of another nation. This remark came a day after India and Japan unveiled a series of landmark initiatives during Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to New Delhi.

"Cooperation between countries should be conducive to enhancing the understanding and trust among regional countries and safeguarding peace and stability in the region," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun during a media briefing in Beijing.

He was responding to a question regarding the India-Japan cooperation on critical minerals aimed at strengthening supply chain resilience following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Japanese premier.

"Such cooperation should not target any third party or harm the interests of any third party, still less be used as an excuse to patch up exclusive small groupings and stoke division and confrontation," Mr. Guo added.

"It is the common responsibility of all countries to keep the global industrial and supply chains safe and stable. All parties should champion openness and cooperation and play a constructive role in the process," he further stated.

Background: India-Japan Summit Initiatives

Following summit talks between PM Modi and PM Takaichi on Thursday (July 2), India and Japan announced several landmark initiatives, including:

• An economic partnership framework
• A defence pact for co-developing military hardware
• Steps to enhance energy ties to address oil shocks

The two leaders also expressed "serious concern" over the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea, according to a joint statement. They opposed unilateral actions that endanger freedom of navigation as well as attempts to change the status quo by force.

China-Japan Relations Context

The Japanese Prime Minister's visit to India was closely monitored by Beijing. Relations between Japan and China have deteriorated to their lowest level in years following Ms. Takaichi's remarks in November 2025, when she stated that Japan could respond if China attacked Taiwan.

China views Taiwan—a self-governed island—as a renegade province that should be brought into its fold by force if necessary. Ms. Takaichi's comments drew a strong response from China.

In a related development, China tightened exports of rare earth minerals to Japan, the United States, India, and several other countries, using them as leverage to expand its trade interests. China accounts for approximately 70% of global rare earth mining and nearly 90% of its processing. These minerals are critical for manufacturing electronics, automobiles, wind energy, defence equipment, and a wide range of modern devices.

Published: July 03, 2026 05:28 pm IST