China condemns remarks by U.S. defense chief

BEIJING — The U.S. is putting regional stability in East Asia at risk, a Chinese spokesman said Saturday after remarks by President Trump’s defense secretary that a U.S. commitment to defend Japanese territory applies to an island group that China claims.

China also registered its displeasure with Mattis’ remarks Friday in South Korea that the Trump administration is committed to carrying through on a deal the Obama administration reached with the Seoul government last year to deploy a high-end U.S. missile defense system to South Korea this year.

The Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense is meant to improve protection of South Korea and Japan — as well as U.S. troops stationed in both countries — against a North Korean missile attack.

Trump has raised concerns with criticism of China’s military buildup in the South China Sea, accusations of currency manipulation and unfair trade policies and allegations that Beijing was doing too little to pressure its communist neighbor North Korea.