China accuses U.S., Japan of smearing it 'baselessly'

FILE PHOTO: Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a virtual meeting with the U.S. President Joe Biden at his official residence in Tokyo, Japan January 21, 2022, in this photo released by Japan's Cabinet Public Relations Office via Kyodo. Japan's Cabinet Public Relations Office via Kyodo/via REUTERS Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Beijing has issued a strongly-worded complaint to the United States and Japan for "baselessly" attacking China at a virtual meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Biden and Kishida had a "very in-depth discussion" on China, sharing concerns about its intimidation of neighbours and "predatory" steps in trade and other realms, a U.S. official said of the meeting last week, adding that Kishida was particularly concerned about China's nuclear buildup.