China in two minds about Japan?

FOR a country that believes strongly in non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, China, oddly, is constantly telling other countries what they can and cannot talk about. Last week, China again was putting the pressure, this time on Japan, host of the Group of Seven (G-7) foreign ministers' meeting on April 10-11 in Hiroshima, as well as on the other participating countries not to discuss South China Sea issues.

In March, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi publicly accused Japan of "double dealing", saying that Japan on one hand proclaims "nice things about wanting to improve relations" but on the other "they are making trouble for China at every turn". Clearly, talking about the South China Sea comes under the heading of "making trouble", and Mr Wang didn't want Japan to put this issue on the agenda.

Mr Wang continued his lobbying until the eve of the G-7 meeting, warning British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond that the foreign ministers should not play up the South China Sea issue and telling his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, that discussing territorial issues would affect regional stability.