Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday that China is gravely concerned about Japan’s recent military and security moves. Japan portrays itself as a peace-loving nation and advocates for a world free of nuclear weapons, yet the Sanae Takaichi’s administration has been vague and evasive about its commitment to the “three non-nuclear principles,” hinting at the possibility of abandoning them. Senior Japanese officials have even claimed that introducing nuclear-powered submarines is not ruled out. All this fully exposes the major negative shift in Japan’s policy and sends a dangerous signal to the international community, the spokesperson noted.
This comment was made in response to media inquiries about Japan’s recent military and security moves, including reports that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi evaded giving a clear answer in the Diet when asked whether she adheres to the “three non-nuclear principles.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara claimed that “no options are off the table” regarding the possible introduction of nuclear-powered submarines, while Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi claimed that Japan should seriously consider acquiring such submarines. In addition, it was reported that Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party held discussions on November 13 regarding revising Article 9 of the Constitution and creating an “emergency powers” clause.
Lin said that during World War II, Japanese militarism launched a war of aggression and committed grave crimes against humanity, bringing immense suffering to the region and the world. In recent years, Japan has significantly adjusted its security policies, increased its defense budget year by year, relaxed restrictions on arms exports, and sought to develop offensive capabilities, moving further down the wrong path of military expansion.
Lin noted that Takaichi recently made blatantly provocative remarks on the Taiwan region, implying the possibility of military intervention in the Taiwan Straits. This series of actions by Japan inevitably raises serious questions and concerns among its Asian neighbors and the international community: Has Japan truly drawn a clear line from militarism? Is the Japanese government genuinely committed to an exclusively defense-oriented policy and the “three non-nuclear principles”? Will Japan continue to abide by its pledge of peaceful development?
“This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s restoration to China. China urges Japan to deeply reflect on its history of aggression, adhere to the path of peaceful development, stop seeking excuses for its military expansion, and take concrete actions to earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community,” said the spokesperson.
Global Times
