At UN, China denounces Japan and EU over South China Sea remarks

China denounced remarks by Japan and the European ‌Union about the South China Sea at a U.N. Security Council ​meeting on Monday (April 27, 2026) and accused Tokyo of provocative behavior in ⁠the Taiwan Strait and planning military expansion.

Ayano Kunimitsu, a Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister, told the Council meeting on maritime security that Tokyo was seriously concerned about the situation in ‌the East China and South China Seas and reiterated Japan’s opposition to any attempt to change the status quo by force and ‌obstruction of freedom of navigation and overflight.