Ministry of Defense: Urges Japan to Accelerate the Disposal Process of Abandoned Chemical Weapons
On the afternoon of July 30, the Ministry of Defense held a regular press conference, where Colonel Jiang Bin, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, answered questions from reporters.
Reporter: Today marks the 27th anniversary of the signing of the memorandum between the Chinese and Japanese governments regarding the destruction of Japan's abandoned chemical weapons. The Chinese side has repeatedly urged the Japanese side to accelerate the disposal process of these chemical weapons. What is your comment on this?
Jiang Bin: The chemical weapons abandoned by Japan in China are one of the serious crimes committed by Japanese militarism during the War of Aggression against China. The early, comprehensive, and thorough destruction of Japan's abandoned chemical weapons is an inescapable historical, political, and legal responsibility of the Japanese side, as well as an international obligation stipulated by the Chemical Weapons Convention. According to the deadlines set by the Convention and the provisions of the memorandum between the Chinese and Japanese governments, the Japanese side was supposed to complete the destruction of all abandoned chemical weapons in China by 2007, but has repeatedly been passive and perfunctory, leading to four delays in the destruction plan.
Due to the Japanese side's insufficient sincerity in fulfilling its obligations and limited investment, especially the failure to provide detailed information on the burial of the abandoned chemical weapons, a large number of these weapons remain undiscovered, continuing to endanger the lives and property of the Chinese people and ecological security. Japan owes the Chinese people an explanation and owes the world an explanation. Avoiding the main issues is not feasible, and trying to muddle through is impossible. We once again urge the Japanese side to face its historical and current responsibilities, take concrete actions to accelerate the disposal process of the abandoned chemical weapons, and restore a clean land to the Chinese people as soon as possible.
China's Ministry of Defense called on Japan to accelerate the disposal of abandoned World War II chemical weapons during a press conference on July 30. The ministry emphasized Japan's historical and legal responsibilities under the Chemical Weapons Convention, noting that Japan has missed multiple deadlines for disposal and that undiscovered weapons continue to threaten public safety in China.
- Japan abandoned chemical weapons in China during World War II.
- China demands Japan to fulfill its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
- Japan has repeatedly delayed the disposal process, missing deadlines.
- There are still undiscovered chemical weapons posing risks to public safety in China.
- China calls for Japan to take concrete actions to address this issue.