On July 12, 2026, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Asia Department
summoned the charge d’affaires of the Japanese embassy in Beijing, lodging stern
representations and expressing strong dissatisfaction and protest over Japanese
public comments marking the 10th anniversary of the South China Sea arbitration
ruling and a related joint statement. China said Japan bears historical
responsibility on the South China Sea issue, has not come to terms with its
past, and therefore lacks the standing to criticise; it accused Japan of
challenging the post‑war international order and rule of law, applying double
standards, stirring up trouble and undermining peace and stability in the South
China Sea. Beijing said Japan’s actions have provoked international vigilance
and indignation over its modern‑era aggression and colonial violence, warned it
will firmly and forcefully counter provocations to defend its territorial
sovereignty and maritime rights, and lodged additional stern representations on
Taiwan, Japan’s abandoned chemical weapons, comments by Japanese lawmakers on
China’s ethnic policies, and a series of adverse Japanese military‑security
developments.
