In a firm statement on Thursday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson issued a stark warning against what Beijing perceives as a dangerous resurgence of Japanese militarism, a development it views as a direct threat to regional peace.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed what he described as "new militarism" trends emerging in Japan. He linked current security policy shifts to a historical pattern, noting that Japanese militarism had previously launched wars of aggression by fabricating external threats and mobilizing nationalist sentiment.
"Historically, Japanese militarism committed serious crimes that brought immense suffering to people across the Asia-Pacific region," Guo stated. He expressed concern that right-wing forces in Japan today have not reflected adequately on this history.
The spokesperson outlined a series of actions underpinning China's concerns. These include Japan's ongoing efforts to revise its pacifist constitution, ease restrictions on lethal weapons exports, deploy offensive missile systems, and significantly increase its military budget. Guo characterized these moves as indicative of an underlying intention to advance military expansion.
Further amplifying regional anxieties, according to Guo, is Japan's active lobbying abroad to reshape its international image and its stepped-up interactions with NATO. Beijing views the latter as an effort to "bring extra-regional military forces into the Asia-Pacific and fuel confrontation."
Guo called for heightened vigilance from regional countries, emphasizing the need to jointly safeguard the outcomes of World War II. "We must remain highly vigilant and jointly safeguard… warning against any attempt to revive militarism or undermine regional peace and stability," he concluded.
The remarks underscore the ongoing sensitivity surrounding historical issues and contemporary security postures in East Asia, a focal point for global observers monitoring stability in one of the world's most dynamic regions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
