During U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta‘s visit to China on Tuesday, the Beijing government instructed him that the United States needs to not get involved in the disputed islands tensions, and honor its promise of not taking sides. Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie also said that they want to work towards a peaceful resolution with Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, but they maintain their right to take “further action.” Well, that seems a little bit like getting things both way, and by China’s logic, their right to take action no doubt requires Japan to give them whatever they want.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta came to China just after a visit to Japan, part of a trip where he is urging both countries to seek calm, peaceful negotiations to prevent the collapse of their diplomatic relations. While Panetta has attempted to persuade Japan of the same idea, Chinese media writes that the U.S. needs to stop encouraging Tokyo of its provocations, or else nothing will be accomplished. Xu Caihou, China’s Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, reiterated to Panetta Beijing’s previous statements that it will not back down even an inch to Japan’s unrecognized claims over the disputed territory, and was more than capable of protecting the country’s sovereignty.
Defense Minister Liang said that China is hoping for a peaceful solution, would be more than happy to work with the Japanese government on finding a proper solution. “Proper” is probably the key term there to what China really means, as Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, who has previously stated that Japan is responsible for the violence and damage sustained over the weekend’s rampant protests in China, once again says that further action will be the consequences of Japan’s actions. Hong adds that Japan needs to admit its wrongs in trying to nationalize the uninhabited islands, and the correct choice in apologizing.
[via Global Times]