China on Friday asked India and Japan to respect the “legitimate concerns” of its neighbours, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Tokyo for talks on several issues, including defence cooperation. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Beijing had no problem with New Delhi and Tokyo developing “normal relations”, and it hoped that the two countries would “contribute to regional peace and security”, PTI reported on Friday.

Separately, an editorial in the state-run Global Times on Tuesday had said India was likely to suffer “great losses” in trade if it supported Japan and asked Beijing to abide by an international tribunal’s ruling against China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. However, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson refused to comment on reports that India is looking to finalise a deal to purchase two US-2i amphibious aircraft from Japan worth Rs 10,000 crore. In September, another spokesperson had said China had “no objection to normal state-to-state cooperation”, including in the area of defence.

Modi’s visit will focus on developing trade and technology ties. India and Japan are expected to sign a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that will enable United States-based atomic firms Westinghouse Electric Corporation and GE Energy to set up plants in India. On September 5, a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official had said the country would work with India on New Delhi’s bid to secure a spot in the Nuclear Suppliers Group because Tokyo believes that its presence in the international body will help it promote non-proliferation.