China has openly condemned statements made by Japan and the European Union regarding the South China Sea, labeling them as provocative and unwarranted. This escalation of tensions unfolded at a UN Security Council meeting on April 27, 2026, where discussions centered on maritime security and regional stability.

Ayano Kunimitsu, Japan's Vice Foreign Minister, expressed Tokyo's serious concerns over escalating tensions in the East China Sea and South China Sea. He reiterated Japan's stance against any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo through force, emphasizing the importance of freedom of navigation.

In parallel, Stavros Lambrinidis, the head of the EU delegation to the UN, highlighted the importance of a stable South China Sea for global shipping routes, stressing that ongoing tensions challenge the rules-based international order.

In response, Sun Lei, China's Deputy Ambassador to the UN, fiercely criticized the remarks from both Japan and the EU. He described Japan's comments as "unwarranted" and accused Tokyo of deliberately provoking tensions by deploying military vessels in the Taiwan Strait. He asserted that the situation remains generally stable and characterized the South China Sea as one of the freest shipping lanes globally.

Sun pointed to Japan's military activities, alleging that the country's right-wing forces are steering its security policy towards a more aggressive and expansionist direction. He criticized Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's previous comments suggesting that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could elicit a military response from Japan, which severely impacted China-Japan relations.

Furthermore, Sun highlighted Japan's increased military spending and its relaxation of restrictions on arms exports as clear indicators of its intentions to pursue military expansion. This tension underscores a broader concern in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly as China significantly increases its military presence and engages in large-scale military exercises.

Overall, the clash between China, Japan, and the EU over the South China Sea illustrates the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in this strategically significant region.