China denies report of Xi Jinping criticising Japan during talks with Trump

China’s Foreign Ministry has rejected a report that President Xi Jinping criticised Japan during a meeting with US President Donald Trump, dismissing the claim as inaccurate, according to Beijing Daily.

Earlier, The Financial Times reported, citing unnamed sources, that Xi Jinping allegedly raised concerns about Japan’s defence policy and spoke sharply about Tokyo during discussions with Donald Trump.

The report also claimed the remarks included criticism of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and that the tone of the exchange surprised US officials.

According to the newspaper, the issue of Japan had not been expected to feature prominently in the talks, and it remained unclear whether Trump explicitly referenced China when discussing regional security concerns, including North Korea.

Responding to the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the account was incorrect, adding that Beijing had already released official information on the meeting between the Chinese and US leaders.

“The content of the reports you mentioned does not correspond to the information available to the Chinese side,” Mao said during a regular briefing, according to Beijing Daily.

The Financial Times also reported that Trump stressed the need for Japan to strengthen its defence capabilities in response to perceived threats from North Korea.