Japan called on to stop smearing China

Beijing has slammed Tokyo for the negative comments it made during its recent meetings with Washington, urging it to maintain the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

Liu Jinsong, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's department of Asian affairs, summoned Akira Yokochi, chief minister of the Japanese embassy in China, on Tuesday, shortly after Japan and the United States held a series of meetings in Tokyo.

Japan and the US held the"2+2"meeting and a ministerial meeting on "extended deterrence" on Sunday. On Monday, the two countries participated in the foreign ministers' meeting of the Quad, a grouping that also includes Australia and India.