Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

综合共同社、《朝日新闻》等多家日媒12月18日报道，日本首相官邸一名高级别官员当天对记者声称，鉴于日本周边安全保障环境日益严峻，他认为“日本应当拥有核武器”。报道称，该官员负责向高市早苗提供安全保障政策建议。

According to multiple Japanese media outlets including Kyodo News and Asahi Shimbun on December 18, a senior official within Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office claimed to reporters that, in light of the increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan, he thinks that “Japan should possess nuclear weapons.” Reports claimed that the official is responsible for providing security policy advice to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

在12月19日举行的中国外交部例行记者会上，外交部发言人郭嘉昆在回应外媒记者“外交部对此有何评论”的提问时表示，中方十分关注媒体上相关的报道，如果相关消息属实，则事态相当严重，暴露出日方一些人企图突破国际法、拥有核武器的危险图谋。中国和国际社会必须高度警惕，严重关切。

At a regular press briefing held by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 19, spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded to a foreign media reporter’s question asking for the ministry’s comment, saying that China is paying close attention to the relevant media reports. If the information is true, the situation would be quite serious, exposing the dangerous plot of some people in Japan to violate international law and acquire nuclear weapons. China and the international community must be highly vigilant and deeply concerned.

郭嘉昆进一步表示，一段时间以来，日方在军事安全问题上错误言行不断，大幅调整安保政策，自我松绑集体自卫权，图谋以“强化延伸威慑合作”寻求核共享修改无核三原则等种种手段，推动盟国核武器重返日本。现在日方一些势力又放风要拥有核武器，反映出日本右翼保守势力复活军国主义、摆脱国际秩序约束、加速再军事化的野心膨胀。

Guo further noted that Japan has repeatedly made erroneous statements and moves on military and security issues for some time, substantially adjusted its security policy, loosened restrictions on the exercise of the right of collective self-defense, and attempted to use various means, such as "strengthening extended deterrence cooperation" to seek nuclear sharing and revising the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, to push for the return of allied nuclear weapons to Japan. The recent signals from some Japanese forces about possessing nuclear weapons reflect the expanding ambitions of right-wing conservative forces in Japan to revive militarism, break free from the constraints of the international order, and accelerate remilitarization.

郭嘉昆表示，日方试图将自己装扮为推动建立无核武器世界的旗手、营造二战核受害者的叙事。事实上，日方未能彻底反省本国发动的侵略战争，成为挑战不扩散核武器条约、破坏国际核不扩散体系的动荡源。国际社会必须擦亮眼睛，认清日本在核不扩散与核裁军问题上的虚伪立场。

Guo said that Japan has tried to portray itself as a flagbearer of building a nuclear weapon free world and to shape a narrative of being a nuclear victim of WWII. In reality, however, Japan has failed to thoroughly reflect on the wars of aggression it launched, and has become a source of instability that challenges the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and undermines the international nuclear nonproliferation system. The international community must remain clear eyed and recognize Japan’s hypocritical stance on nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear disarmament. 

近期，日本多个政党、多名政要和不少民间团体机构呼吁必须坚持无核三原则，避免战争惨祸重演。今年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年，日方必须深刻反省历史罪责，恪守国际法和自身宪法，停止为扩军强武寻找借口，停止在拥核问题上试探国际正义的底线红线。

Recently, multiple Japanese political parties, politicians, and many civic groups and organizations have called for adherence to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and for preventing the tragedy of war from repeating itself. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Japan must deeply reflect on its historical crimes, abide by international law and its own constitution, stop seeking excuses for military expansion, and stop testing the bottom line of international justice on the issue of nuclear weapons, Guo said.