The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday denounced a joint statement issued by Japan, the United States and Australia last Friday condemning any attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea by "coercive or unilateral actions."
"Even though (the three countries) are allies, they should not use this to interfere in disputes of territorial sovereignty," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement released Monday.
China is observing a weeklong holiday that began with National Day on Oct. 1.