Japan Self-Defense Forces Participate in US-Philippines Military Exercises, China: Japan Should Seriously Reflect on Its History of Aggression and Exercise Caution in Military and Security Matters

[Global Times reporters Guo Yuandan, Global Times special correspondent in Japan Chu Xin, Wang Jun] The "Shoulder-to-Shoulder" joint military exercise between the Philippines and the United States was launched on the 20th in the Philippine capital, Manila. The Japan Self-Defense Forces dispatched over a thousand troops to participate, marking Japan's first deployment of combat forces to the Philippines since World War II for the "Shoulder-to-Shoulder" exercise, raising concerns in the international community about the regional situation. "We want to remind relevant countries that blindly tying security together will only lead to self-harm and backfire," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiajun on the 20th. Military security cooperation between countries should not undermine mutual understanding and trust among regional countries, should not disrupt regional peace and stability, and should not target third parties or harm their interests.

According to the Philippine Manila Bulletin, this year's "Shoulder-to-Shoulder" military exercise includes not only the U.S. and the Philippines but also Japan, Australia, Canada, France, and New Zealand, with a total of 17,000 troops involved. Reports indicate that Japan has sent 1,400 Self-Defense Force personnel to participate, deploying various equipment including the destroyer "Ray" and the helicopter destroyer "Ise," and plans to conduct live-fire exercises using the Type 88 land-based anti-ship missile in the waters off northern Philippines to sink target ships. Regarding the passage of Japan's "Ray" destroyer through the Taiwan Strait on the 17th to participate in the "Shoulder-to-Shoulder" military exercise, Guo Jiajun stated on the 20th that Japan had committed serious historical crimes during World War II by invading and colonizing Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines. Japan should seriously reflect on its history of aggression and act cautiously in the field of military security, rather than flaunting its military power and undermining regional stability.

Military expert Song Zhongping told Global Times reporters on the 20th that Japan's current pacifist constitution does not allow Japan to exercise military force overseas, nor does it permit the implementation of collective self-defense rights, which includes the use of land-based cruise missiles. "In the exercise, Japan's use of land-based anti-ship missiles to strike maritime targets, especially in the sensitive area near the Philippines, is in itself a show of force that will escalate regional tensions."

Song Zhongping analyzed that although the Type 88 land-based anti-ship missile used by Japan this time is an old weapon, once it begins, Japan will gradually escalate and test the waters by using more advanced anti-ship missiles, a trend that requires vigilance from the international community.

In this military exercise, the five coastal surveillance radar systems previously provided by Japan to the Philippines were also put into use. Song Zhongping stated that the Philippines does not need such equipment; Japan is actually using the guise of assistance to strengthen its own situational awareness and military presence in the South China Sea to respond to the so-called "Chinese pressure." The Philippines' blind accommodation will only lead to self-harm. If Japan threatens China's sovereignty and security, China will take necessary countermeasures, and the Philippines will have to bear the corresponding costs.

Ding Duo, director of the Regional Country Studies Institute at the South China Sea Research Institute, told Global Times reporters that Japan's actions are a blatant military adventure aimed at using the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea issues to promote the so-called "normalization of the state" and accelerate military expansion. Its adverse effects are reflected in three aspects: first, the limitations imposed by Japan's pacifist constitution are gradually being breached, and it may even become nominally non-existent in the future, making Japan a potential source of war in the East Asia region again; second, it fosters Japan's far-right forces, creating a social atmosphere that further suppresses rational, peaceful, and reflective voices domestically; third, Japan's deep military cooperation with certain regional countries and its collaboration with NATO bring instability and uncertainty to the East Asia region, significantly raising the level of geopolitical confrontation and exacerbating the risk of conflict.

In contrast to the Japanese government's military adventurism, public concern among Japanese citizens regarding constitutional amendments and security policies continues to rise, with related gatherings expanding in scale. On April 19, about 36,000 people gathered in front of the Japanese parliament; on April 8, over 160 locations nationwide held coordinated protests with a total participation of 49,000 people, covering all 47 prefectures, showing a nationwide trend of mobilization, with a noticeable increase in the proportion of young people. The Japanese Daily News reported that the number of people gathering in front of the Japanese parliament increased from 3,600 in February to tens of thousands in April. Among the participants were company employees holding homemade signs, families bringing children, and ordinary citizens expressing anti-war positions in various ways.

In response, Guo Jiajun stated on the 20th that Japanese militarism has committed brutal crimes against the people of China and other Asian countries, bringing deep disasters to the Japanese people as well. For this reason, the issue of Japan's constitutional amendment is related to the post-war international order and Japan's direction, and has always attracted high attention from the international community and neighboring Asian countries. However, Japan has yet to conduct a profound and thorough reflection on its history of aggression, and some forces still attempt to beautify and whitewash the crimes of aggression, pushing Japan to accelerate its "remilitarization," leading to the emergence of "new militarism," which threatens regional peace and stability. The international community should remain highly vigilant about this.