China sternly refutes Japanese Defense Minister's "nuclear possession" remarks

According to a report by Reference News Network on October 2, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhao Lijian, stated at a regular press conference on September 30 that the question of whether Japan wants to discuss nuclear weapons is not an issue. Not accepting, not producing, not possessing, and not proliferating nuclear weapons is Japan's unshakable obligation under international law.

According to reports, Japanese Defense Minister Kono Taro stated on the 28th that discussions about possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear submarines should not be excluded when revising the "Three Security Documents."

Zhao Lijian emphasized that, first of all, the question of whether Japan wants to discuss nuclear weapons is not an issue. Japan is a non-nuclear weapon state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and not accepting, not producing, not possessing, and not proliferating nuclear weapons is Japan's unshakable obligation under international law, leaving no room for negotiation.

He noted that Kishi Nobuo reaffirmed the commitment to the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" in February this year, and Japanese representatives attending the NPT Review Conference in May repeatedly confirmed that there would be no change to the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," which is still fresh in memory.

Zhao Lijian stated that the current head of Japan's defense department making remarks about "no taboo discussions on nuclear weapons and nuclear submarines" is a serious provocation and blatant trampling of the NPT and the post-World War II international order, seriously deviating from Japan's claimed adherence to the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," and once again exposing the nuclear ambitions of Japan's right-wing forces.

The spokesperson pointed out that in recent years, Japan has been accelerating its "remilitarization" process, attempting to abandon the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," strengthening so-called "extended deterrence" arrangements, seeking the deployment of nuclear weapons in Japan, and attempting to achieve a gradual loosening of nuclear restrictions, continuously challenging the bottom line of the international community.

According to Kyodo News on September 29, Japanese Defense Minister Kono Taro reiterated on a BS Fuji TV program aired on the 28th that discussions about the possibility of possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear submarines should not be excluded in the revision of three security-related documents, including the "National Security Strategy."

He said, "Discussions should be conducted without any taboos and without preconditions; if even discussions are not allowed, it deviates from my sense of crisis."

Kono also stated, "If we adopt the attitude of 'not discussing what we don't want to discuss,' can Japan really maintain peace? The world situation is evolving to this stage." He emphasized, "We must have the capability to deter threats against our country."

Kono had previously mentioned in an online program aired in July that discussions related to nuclear weapons must be "touched upon." Regarding the possession of nuclear submarines, he also stated that he would "not exclude any options for research." (Translation by Ma Xiaoyun)