China urges Asia-pacific unity as India hosts Japan talks

China on Thursday called on Asia-Pacific countries to maintain unity and avoid confrontation, as diplomatic attention focused on New Delhi where India is hosting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for bilateral talks and the 16th India-Japan annual summit.

Beijing warns against division narratives

Responding to Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) approach, Beijing criticized what it described as rhetoric that promotes openness while encouraging geopolitical confrontation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said such frameworks do not reflect the region’s shared priorities.

“Chanting for freedom and openness when actually has confrontation and antagonism in mind... will never win genuine recognition,” Guo told reporters in Beijing, arguing that regional stability should take precedence over strategic rivalry.

He added that Asia-Pacific countries should prioritize cooperation and avoid fragmentation, stressing that external competition risks undermining long-term development across the region.

Japan defends Indo-Pacific vision

During her visit to India, which began Wednesday, Prime Minister Takaichi outlined her vision for an updated Indo-Pacific strategy in a commentary published in Indian media. She said countries in vulnerable positions must be protected from coercion and given greater strategic autonomy.

“We must work together to enhance the autonomy and resilience of countries in vulnerable positions so that they are never forced into choices under coercion from other states,” she wrote, describing this as the core principle of her revised FOIP approach.

Takaichi also emphasized that a truly free and open regional order should ensure equal sovereignty for all nations, not just major powers.

India-Japan summit in focus

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Takaichi are holding the 16th India-Japan annual summit in New Delhi on Thursday, where discussions are expected to cover economic cooperation, security coordination and Indo-Pacific strategy.

The meeting comes at a time of heightened strategic competition in Asia, with major powers promoting different visions of regional order and influence.

China reiterates call for cooperation

In response to these developments, Chinese officials reiterated that the Asia-Pacific should avoid bloc confrontation. Guo Jiakun said countries in the region should strengthen trust through dialogue and pursue shared development instead of division.

He added that regional stability depends on inclusive cooperation and mutual benefit, warning against policies that could deepen geopolitical fault lines in the Indo-Pacific.