PLA Major General Questions Japan: Do You Have the Qualification to Discuss Defense Cooperation in International Forums?

[Global Times - Global Network Report by reporters Guo Yuandan and Su Yaxuan] "The lessons of history are not far away. Today, the world is at a new crossroads, and we must be vigilant against any militaristic ideology attempting to revive, and effectively safeguard the achievements of World War II and the post-war international order." At the Shangri-La Dialogue parallel session held on the afternoon of May 30, Professor Meng Xiangqing, head of the Chinese People's Liberation Army expert delegation and a professor at the National Defense University, publicly criticized Japan's new militaristic tendencies in his speech.

During a panel discussion themed "How to Manage Threats to Strategic Stability," Meng Xiangqing stated that the current world is facing unprecedented challenges, primarily from four aspects: first, hegemonism is impacting regional security; second, the risk of global nuclear conflict is rising; third, the international arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation system is severely eroded; and fourth, global governance is in serious disorder.

When elaborating on the issue of "hegemonism impacting regional security," Meng Xiangqing pointed out that certain countries are engaging in power politics, seeking absolute strategic advantages, provoking camp confrontations, and exacerbating international and regional arms races, leading to frequent regional conflicts. Regarding the issue of "the international arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation system being severely eroded," he noted that a series of nuclear arms control "fences" have become ineffective; Australia is developing nuclear submarines under the AUKUS agreement; Japan is promoting amendments to its pacifist constitution and the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," seeking to deploy nuclear weapons in Japan with the help of its allies, thus increasing the risk of nuclear proliferation.

"The aforementioned risks are interwoven and compounded, making the current strategic stability extremely fragile." In response, Meng Xiangqing suggested that all countries, especially major powers, should earnestly practice the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and take on the responsibility of maintaining strategic stability.

He also mentioned that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Far East International Military Tribunal. This just trial forever nailed the heinous crimes of Japanese militarism to the pillar of historical shame and laid an important legal foundation for the post-war international order. However, today, there are still some forces openly beautifying war crimes, promoting erroneous views of World War II history, attempting to challenge the conclusions of the Tokyo Trials, revising the history of aggression, and even taking actual actions to break through the constraints of the post-war peace system.

"Does a country that has not thoroughly reckoned with the toxic legacy of militarism have the qualification to talk about defense cooperation on the international stage? Can it win the trust of the international community, especially the Asian countries it has previously invaded? I have serious doubts," Meng Xiangqing stated.