Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning

When asked to comment on Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi's announcement of the deployment of long-range missiles capable of "attacking enemy bases" in Kumamoto and Shizuoka, and claims that Japan faces the most complex security environment since the end of World War II and needs to build standoff defense capabilities, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday that China expresses grave concern over the above-mentioned moves by Japan. 

Under the pretext of "defense" and "counterattack," Japan has deployed offensive weapons, which go far beyond the scope of "self-defense" and "exclusively defense-oriented" policy. This seriously violates the provisions of legally binding international documents including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, as well as Japan's constitution and existing domestic norms, the spokesperson added.

This once again shows that right-wing forces in Japan are pushing the country's security policy in an offensive and expansionary direction. Japan's "new militarism" is threatening regional peace and stability, and the international community must stay highly vigilant. We have also noted that many Japanese groups and citizens have clearly voiced their opposition, Mao said.

Recently, an official of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force illegally broke into the Chinese Embassy in Japan with a knife. Instead of reflecting on the mismanagement and lack of control over the Self-Defense Force, Japan has continued to hype up external threats and accelerate its military buildup. Such a trend is extremely dangerous, the spokesperson added. We solemnly urge Japan to deeply reflect on its militarist history of aggression, honor its commitments in the military and security field, and act with prudence, Mao said.

Global Times