4-7-2023 (BEIJING) China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, has called on South Korea and Japan to reject Western influences and remember their “roots” in racially charged comments made at a trilateral forum in the eastern city of Qingdao on Monday. Wang, who is in charge of the Communist Party’s foreign policy, accused Western powers of playing up ideological differences between the countries.
He also made a case for unity between the three countries on the basis of race, saying, “Europeans and Americans can’t distinguish between Chinese, Japanese, and South Koreans.” According to a recording shared by the state-run nationalist media outlet, the Global Times, and reported by other Beijing media, Wang said, “No matter how yellow our hair is dyed or how sharp we change our nose, we can’t become Westerners. We should know where our roots are.”
Wang’s remarks come at a time of increasing Chinese anger towards its East Asian neighbours over Washington’s efforts to strengthen military and intelligence ties with its two close allies. Last month, Seoul summoned China’s ambassador to South Korea after he met with a local opposition leader and suggested that Seoul was being influenced by “external factors” in its relations with China.
China has also expressed “strong opposition” to Japan’s plans to release treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. The issue has raised concerns from neighbouring countries about the potential impact on the environment and fisheries.
