Ministry of Defense: Urges Japan to Completely Cut Ties with Militarism
Ministry of Defense: Urges Japan to Completely Cut Ties with Militarism
On the afternoon of April 17, Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, released a statement regarding recent military-related issues.
Reporter: According to reports, the Japanese Diet's House of Councillors has passed the budget proposal for the fiscal year 2026, with the defense budget exceeding 9 trillion yen, setting a new historical high. The Japanese government plans to officially amend the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment" this month, which will allow the export of lethal weapons, among others. What is your comment on this?
Zhang Xiaogang: Various signs indicate that right-wing forces in Japan are accelerating the shift of security policies towards offensive and expansionist directions. Their actions seriously violate the provisions of internationally binding documents such as the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and Japan's Instrument of Surrender, and they severely contravene the Japanese Constitution and existing domestic regulations, posing a serious threat to the post-war international order and regional peace and stability.
The historical lessons are not far away. Japanese militarism has brought profound disasters to the region and the world, but it has not been truly reckoned with after the war. Now, Japan has completely torn off its disguise and is accelerating its "remilitarization," which cannot help but cause strong concern and condemnation from the international community. We urge Japan to stop its regressive actions and completely sever ties with militarism; otherwise, it will only lose the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.
China's Ministry of National Defense criticized Japan's military budget increase and proposed policy changes on April 17, urging Japan to cut ties with militarism. The ministry highlighted concerns over Japan's shift towards aggressive security policies, which they believe threaten regional peace and stability.
- Japan's defense budget exceeds 9 trillion yen, a historical high.
- Japan plans to amend its three principles on defense equipment transfer to allow arms exports.
- China expresses strong concerns over Japan's shift towards militarism and its implications for regional stability.
- The statement references historical consequences of Japanese militarism.