China has reaffirmed its opposition to Japan's bid for a permanent United Nations Security Council seat, with senior diplomat Sun Lei declaring Tokyo "fundamentally unqualified" during Wednesday's intergovernmental negotiations on UN reform. The charge d'affaires of China's Permanent Mission to the UN emphasized that Japan's historical revisionism and military policy shifts undermine its credibility as a global security stakeholder.
Speaking at the 80th UN General Assembly session, Sun highlighted unresolved issues from World War II, stating: "A country that shows no remorse for historical crimes, violates international norms, and challenges postwar outcomes cannot claim leadership in maintaining global peace." He specifically referenced Japan's treatment of wartime atrocities including the Nanjing Massacre and comfort women system.
The diplomat warned that recent moves to revise Japan's security policies and nuclear principles reveal dangerous militaristic tendencies. This criticism follows Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's controversial remarks about the Taiwan question and reported considerations to amend the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.
Sun positioned China as a defender of the postwar international order, vowing to collaborate with other nations to maintain Security Council authority. The remarks come amid ongoing debates about UNSC restructuring to better reflect 21st-century geopolitical realities.
