Day after United States President Barack Obama rolled out the red carpet to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Shizno Abe at the White House, Beijing has warned that Tokyo's alliance with Washington should not undermine China's interests or disturb the Asia-Pacific region.
The warning came as Tokyo and Washington unveiled new rules on defence cooperation that would give Japan a more robust military role amid mounting concerns over China's land reclamation activities in South China Sea, reported China Daily.
Secretary of State John Kerry stressed that the U.S.' commitment to Japan's security remained "ironclad" and covered all territories under Japan's administration. He also included China's Diaoyu Islands within the scope of Japan's administration.
While welcoming Abe to the White House on Tuesday, Obama hailed the alliance between the two nations as the "cornerstone" of security in the Asia-Pacific region. Both Tokyo and Washington vowed to counter threats to "international order" by forging a trade deal and through an expanded security role for long-pacifistic Japan.