World · East Asia & Pacific · 4 hrs ago
China urges Mekong countries to cooperate on security, criticises Japan
China and five Mekong countries held a foreign ministers’ meeting in Beijing on November 4.
The countries were Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar.
China’s Wang Yi urged them to strengthen security cooperation and said the return of militarism must never be allowed.
His remarks were aimed at Japan, whose government China has criticised over its defence policy and historical views.
The meeting took place amid continuing tensions between China and Japan, following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about a possible Taiwan crisis.
China’s criticism links Japan’s current policies to fears of a return to militarism.
The meeting’s reported outcome was a call for closer security cooperation, with no further steps specified.
China and five Mekong countries held a foreign ministers’ meeting in Beijing on November 4.
China’s Wang Yi urged the countries to cooperate on security.
Wang said the revival of militarism would not be allowed, in remarks aimed at Japan.
China has criticised the administration of Sanae Takaichi over its defence policy and historical views.
- Who
- China and the five Mekong countries: Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar.
- What
- They held a foreign ministers’ meeting, where Wang Yi called for security cooperation and criticised Japan.
- When
- November 4, 2026.
- Where
- Beijing, China.
- Why
- Wang called for security cooperation and said the revival of militarism must not be allowed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
China and the five Mekong countries held a foreign ministers’ meeting in Beijing.
Wang Yi called for security cooperation and said the revival of militarism would not be allowed.
- Meeting date
- November 4, 2026
- Meeting location
- Beijing
- Mekong countries
- Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar
- Chinese official
- Wang Yi, Communist Party Politburo member
- Subject of criticism
- Japan’s defence policy and historical views
1 source
What people are saying
We will never allow the revival of militarism.