China’s Global Times government newspaper expressed outrage that Japan and Britain’s prime ministers — Kishida Fumio and Liz Truss, respectively — made time to meet at the United Nations General Assembly, dismissing both countries as “little brothers” of America.
By the end of Thursday, both Kishida and Truss had issued their addresses to the General Assembly’s general debate, an annual event in which world leaders are invited to speak on any topic they choose.
Both have been outspoken critics of China’s Communist Party for human rights violations against its own people, as well as the global security threats posed by China’s constant belligerence toward neighbouring Taiwan, which it falsely claims as a province.
During their meeting, Truss “condemned China’s recent provocations over Taiwan, which threatened Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.”
Truss and Kishida “resolved to work together to tackle the strategic threat posed by China,” and agreed “on the importance of like-minded democracies working together,” according to her office’s readout.
The Global Times described the seemingly unimportant meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations on Wednesday as “petty tricks” by provocative countries attempting to “contain China.”
“Britain, which is still immersed in the long-gone glory of the ’empire on which the sun never sets,’ tends to believe it can still make a difference in international affairs,” the state mouthpiece declared.
“Japan, harbouring a similar intent as the UK – to become a global power and enhance its worldwide discourse power, also seems eager to contribute to expanding NATO to Asia-Pacific, especially its periphery.”
The state propaganda newspaper claimed repeatedly that the meeting was an attempt to “expand” NATO, a military alliance to which Japan does not belong due, in part, to Japan’s lack of military.
China frequently condemns NATO as a means of disparaging the United States and the rest of the Western world, specifically blaming NATO for its ally, Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, choosing to invade and colonise neighbouring Ukraine eight years ago.