China condemns US-Japanese stance on Taiwan issue
21 February 2005
China denounced a joint statement by the US and Japan declaring the peaceful resolution of China's dispute with Taiwan as "common strategic objectives." Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan called the statement "irresponsible" and said China opposes the US-Japanese statement as an infringement of the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The joint statement is viewed by some experts as another sign that the US is trying to reign in China as it becomes an economic and military force that will compete with the US for natural resources, including energy.