China Urges US, Japan Not to Escalate Tensions around Korean Peninsula
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – China considers it essential that the US, Japan and South Korea exercise caution in their actions, including military exercises, and stop actions that escalate tensions around the Korean Peninsula, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a briefing on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Pentagon said that the US Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the South Korean Navy took part in missile launch warning, ballistic missile detection and tracking maneuvers from August 8 to 14 as part of the Pacific Dragon joint military exercise in the Pacific Missile Range in Hawaii, RIA Novosti reported.
"Who are these military exercises aimed at? You'd better ask the American side about this," the diplomat said, answering a question about whether Beijing believes that the exercises are in any way directed against China.
He added that the Chinese side drew attention to the relevant joint military exercises, as well as the fact that the DPRK has repeatedly expressed its concern about this.
"Maintaining peace and stability in the (Korean) peninsula serves the common interests of all relevant parties and requires all parties to show good intentions towards each other and go towards each other," Wang Wenbin said.
He also added that due importance should be given to the negative impact of the past exercises on the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
"The parties concerned must act prudently and cease actions that escalate tension and confrontation and undermine the mutual trust of all parties," he said.