South Korea, China react sharply to descriptions in Japan's defense white paper
South Korea controls the islands. Japan claims them. The Japanese government says South Korea is illegally occupying them.
A South Korean foreign ministry spokesperson issued a statement on Tuesday, after the white paper on defense policy was presented to a Cabinet meeting in Japan.
The spokesperson called the islands Dokdo, and claimed South Korea's sovereignty over them. The spokesperson expressed a strong protest, and called for immediate withdrawal of the description in the white paper.
The spokesperson also said the South Korean government will respond firmly to any provocation by Japan over the islands.
The country's foreign ministry says it summoned Iseki Yoshiyasu, a senior diplomat at the Japanese embassy in Seoul, to deliver a protest on Tuesday afternoon.
Iseki reportedly told South Korean officials it is clear that the Takeshima Islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory in light of history and international law, calling the protest by Seoul unacceptable.
China has also reacted sharply to the white paper, which expresses strong concern that Beijing's increased military activities could have serious impact on Japan's security.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters on Tuesday that the white paper contains a wrong perception of China, interferes in the country's domestic affairs unfairly, and seeks to play up the so-called "China threat" narrative.
The spokesperson said China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition, and added that Beijing has already lodged a protest with Tokyo.
Lin called China's military activities legitimate and justified.
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