China reacts carefully to Narendra Modi’s comments
Tokyo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed his displeasure in oblique comments against China saying that he deloped the “expansionist” tendency among some countries while addressing business leaders of India and Japan.
Relations between Japan and China have been tense over island disputes in the East China Sea and exploitation of undersea gas deposits in the area.
China reacted guardedly to Mr Modi’s remarks saying that it is not clear what was he referring to and recalled his earlier comments that India and China are strategic partners.
“We have noted relevant information about PM Mr Modi’s visit to Japan. You just mentioned comments made by him I don’t know what is he referring to,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a media briefing.
“But I can answer the question by quoting Mr Modi’s words. He said China and India are strategic partners for common development,” Mr Qin recalled Prime Minister Modi's comments made on an earlier occasion.