I'm pretty sure the same argument can be made, but more strongly, for C.
C is massively more cross platform than Java - a JVM implementation often relies on C. C compilers are often the first things implemented for new platforms. C is very close to pure native code - to the point where many equate C/C++ with native. All of Java can be beaten or matched by C performance wise because of the power it gives to leverage the hardware in precisely the same way the JVM can but without (so many) overheads that are designed in.
C is massively more cross platform than Java - a JVM implementation often relies on C. C compilers are often the first things implemented for new platforms. C is very close to pure native code - to the point where many equate C/C++ with native. All of Java can be beaten or matched by C performance wise because of the power it gives to leverage the hardware in precisely the same way the JVM can but without (so many) overheads that are designed in.