Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

Responding to a media inquiry about reports that around 36,000 people gathered near the Japanese parliament on Sunday to protest the government of Sanae Takaichi over its push to revise the constitution, holding signs that read "No War! Don't Change the Constitution!" and "Takaichi steps down," while calling for the protection of Japan's pacifist constitution, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing on Monday, "We have also noted that Japan's moves toward constitutional revision have triggered growing doubts and opposition within Japan, among neighboring Asian countries and in the international community."

Guo added that Japanese militarism once committed brutal crimes against the peoples of China and other Asian countries, causing profound suffering to the Japanese people as well. For this reason, Japan's constitutional revision issue concerns the postwar international order and the future direction of Japan, and it has long drawn close attention from the international community and neighboring Asian countries.

However, Japan has yet to conduct a deep and thorough reflection on its history of aggression, while some forces are still attempting to beautify and whitewash those crimes and accelerate Japan's "remilitarization." Such trends have allowed "neo-militarism" to grow into a threat to regional peace and stability, Guo said, adding that the international community should remain highly vigilant. 

Preventing the return of militarism is an obligation Japan must fulfill, and is also the firm will of the international community, including China. "We urge Japan to learn from history, honor its international obligations, and remain committed to the path of peaceful development," Guo noted.

Global Times