Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning

When asked to comment on that Japan's defense minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the deployment of long-range missiles in Kumamoto and Shizuoka capable of striking "enemy bases," and claimed that "as Japan faces the most complex security environment in the postwar era, it is extremely important to strengthen Japan's standoff defense capabilities," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday that China is gravely concerned. 

Japan claims the purpose is for "defense" and "counterstrike," but the deployment of those offensive weapons goes far beyond the scope of self-defense and Japan's "exclusively defense-oriented" policy, violates instruments with legal effect under international law such as the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, and goes against Japan's own Constitution and norms, the spokesperson added.

The deployment is yet another signal that Japan's right-wing forces are pushing for a more offensive and expansionist defense policy, and neo-militarism is casting a long shadow over regional peace and stability. The international community needs to stay fully alarmed. We also noticed that many Japanese groups and people have expressed their clear opposition, Mao said.

Not long ago, a sitting officer of Japan's Self-Defense Forces broke into the Chinese embassy in Japan armed with a knife. Japanese side did not reflect on its failure in maintaining discipline in the SDF. Instead, it continues to peddle the narrative of external threats and expedite the military buildup. This is a highly dangerous trend. China solemnly urges the Japanese side to do serious soul-searching on its history of militarist aggression, and honor its commitment and exercise prudence in military and security areas, Mao said.

Global Times