China has called on Japan to intensify efforts to safely eliminate chemical weapons abandoned during World War II, emphasizing the lingering threat to public safety and environmental health. Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin reiterated this demand during a December 5 press briefing while presenting China's latest white paper on arms control and disarmament.
Jiang criticized Japan's delayed progress in addressing the issue, noting that over 200,000 Chinese military personnel and civilians were casualties of chemical warfare during Japan's wartime aggression. Post-defeat, Japan abandoned vast quantities of these weapons on Chinese soil, leading to over 2,000 additional poisonings. Unexploded ordnance continues to endanger communities and ecosystems today.
The spokesperson urged Japan to prioritize information sharing, assist in locating remaining weapons, and take responsibility for soil and water decontamination. The appeal aligns with China's broader push for accountability under international disarmament frameworks.
This development comes as regional tensions over historical grievances persist, with Beijing framing the issue as both a humanitarian imperative and a test of Tokyo's commitment to postwar reconciliation.
