Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian

When asked to comment on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's scheduled proposal of a new version of the so-called "free and open Indo-Pacific" during her visit to Vietnam in May, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that state-to-state interactions should not target or harm the interests of third parties. 

Under the pretext of freedom and openness, Japan is in essence stoking bloc confrontation and forming exclusive cliques. Such practices run counter to the shared aspiration of regional countries and the international community for peace, development and cooperation, and are unpopular, Lin said.

Global Times