The Ministry of Defense strongly criticizes Japan's dangerous military trends: "Japan's nuclear ambitions cannot be tolerated, and challenges to the red line cannot be accepted."

[Global Times Report, Reporter Guo Yuandan] On the afternoon of July 30, the Ministry of Defense held a regular press conference, where Major General Jiang Bin, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, focused on responding to recent hot military topics, including responses to Japan's latest dangerous military developments.

Reiterating that "Senkaku Reef" is not an island

The joint naval patrol between China and Russia concluded on July 29. According to information released by the Ministry of Defense, the fleet set sail from Qingdao, Shandong on July 13, passing through the Miyako Strait, the Zhechuan Strait, and the Soya Strait, conducting joint patrols in the western Pacific, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Sea of Japan. During the patrol, both sides conducted exercises including helicopter landings, joint counter-terrorism, humanitarian rescue, and boarding and inspection.

In response to this joint patrol, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has been frequently hyping the situation. The Japanese side claimed that "four Chinese and Russian naval vessels were operating in the southwestern waters of Senkaku Reef, during which a Chinese warship conducted shooting training within Japan's exclusive economic zone."

In response, Jiang Bin stated at the regular press conference on the 30th that the waters where the Chinese and Russian militaries conducted their joint patrol are high seas, not the so-called exclusive economic zone claimed by Japan. It is well known that Senkaku Reef has an area of less than 10 square meters, barely exposed above the sea surface due to artificial reinforcement, and cannot sustain human life, completely failing to meet the definition of an island under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Japanese side's disregard for facts by "designating a reef as an island" and claiming an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf is fundamentally untenable.

"The actions of China and Russia are in accordance with international law and international practices, and the Japanese side has no right to make unfounded claims; their hype will only backfire," Jiang Bin emphasized.

Military expert Zhang Junsha, in an interview with a Global Times reporter, stated that in fact, the Japanese vessels have been closely trailing and conducting reconnaissance on our fleet for an extended period, even intermingling with our fleet, and it is the Japanese actions that are the source of maritime tension.

The Global Times reporter noted a detail in the information released by the Ministry of Defense: Chinese vessels also set up scenarios based on the current maritime and aerial situation to conduct multiple practical exercises.

In this regard, Zhang Junsha stated that the "setting up of scenarios" sends a clear deterrent signal: China has the capability to conduct counter-exercises against various maritime disturbances and sudden maritime risks in the surrounding areas, and is fully prepared to respond to various maritime emergencies, warning Japan not to continue provocative surveillance actions.

Requesting Japan to expedite the disposal of abandoned chemical weapons

July 30 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. China has repeatedly urged Japan to expedite the disposal process of these weapons.

Jiang Bin stated at the press conference that "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 and complete destruction of Japan's abandoned chemical weapons is an undeniable historical, political, and legal responsibility of Japan, and is an international obligation stipulated by the Chemical Weapons Convention."

According to Jiang Bin, based on the deadlines set by the Chemical Weapons Convention and the provisions of the China-Japan government memorandum, Japan should have completed the destruction of all abandoned chemical weapons in China by 2007, but has repeatedly been passive and perfunctory, leading to the destruction plan being overdue four times.

Jiang Bin said, "Due to Japan's insufficient sincerity in fulfilling its obligations and limited investment, especially its failure to provide detailed information on the burial of abandoned chemical weapons, a large number of these weapons remain undiscovered, still endangering the lives and property safety and ecological security of the Chinese people. 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 Japan to face its historical and current responsibilities and take concrete actions to expedite the disposal of abandoned chemical weapons, so as to restore a clean land for the Chinese people as soon as possible."

Beware of Japan's "National Intelligence Agency" officially being established

On July 31, Japan's "National Intelligence Agency" will officially be established, and the "National Intelligence Meeting," personally led by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, will hold its first meeting. The Japanese government claims this is to integrate intelligence capabilities and respond to so-called "spy infiltration."

In response, Jiang Bin stated at the regular press conference that we have noticed that this development has sparked widespread controversy and strong unease within Japan, reminiscent of Japan's internal surveillance and suppression during World War II, which served external aggression. The Japanese ruling authorities, under the pretext of responding to so-called "security threats," are vigorously promoting the centralization and militarization of intelligence agencies, which is closely linked to a series of military expansion and preparation trends. In essence, this is creating an intelligence system that serves military expansion and war preparation, posing significant risks to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and the world.

Jiang Bin emphasized that the international community must remain highly vigilant and resolutely curb the ambitions of Japan's right-wing forces to break free from the constraints of the post-war system and revive militarism.

The ambitions of Japan's right-wing forces to revive militarism are reflected in various aspects. The Japanese Minister of Defense has repeatedly claimed that Japan should discuss policies related to nuclear weapons without any taboos, including whether to revise the long-standing "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" established after World War II.

In response, Jiang Bin criticized, "The remarks made by the Japanese Minister of Defense are highly provocative and dangerous, once again exposing the Japanese side's disguise and lies to deceive the international community. Is this an attempt to test public opinion for ulterior motives and to lay the groundwork for nefarious schemes, challenging the bottom line of justice in the international community?"

It is worth noting that Japan is internationally recognized as a nuclear threshold state, stockpiling approximately 44.4 tons of separated plutonium, deliberately maintaining the capability to seek a nuclear breakthrough in the short term.

Jiang Bin warned that Japan's pursuit of a breakthrough of the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" seriously violates the international legal obligations stipulated by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, severely impacts the international nuclear non-proliferation system, and poses a serious threat to the achievements of World War II and the post-war international order.

Jiang Bin said, "Japan's nuclear ambitions cannot be tolerated, and challenging the red line is unacceptable; otherwise, once the 'Pandora's box' is opened, the consequences will be unimaginable. The international community and all sectors of Japanese society must remain highly vigilant and resolutely curb this."

Strong criticism of the "Han Guang" exercise

The Global Times reporter noted on-site that at the press conference, in addition to the high attention given to issues related to Japan, the topic of Taiwan was also a key focus for the media.

The Taiwanese military recently announced that it will conduct the so-called "Han Guang No. 42 exercise" from August 5 to 14, with a town resilience (air defense) exercise for the first time incorporating network disconnection, which may affect navigation, payment, and other civilian functions during the exercise.

There are opinions questioning whether this is using the exercise to hype the "mainland threat" and strengthen the "anti-China" atmosphere.

In response, Jiang Bin stated that the DPP authorities' stubborn insistence on the "Taiwan independence" separatist position is the greatest harm to the livelihood of the Taiwanese society. They are exhausting the people and wasting resources for their own party's interests, constantly creating war anxiety and inciting confrontation across the strait, attempting to bind the Taiwanese people to the "Taiwan independence" war chariot, where they will only face the outcome of "Taiwan independence" failure.

While the Taiwanese side is creating a tense atmosphere for military preparation, the data on the activities of the PLA's naval and air forces around the Taiwan Strait that they publicly released shows a declining trend, forming a stark contrast between the two sets of information.

According to Taiwanese media reports, the Taiwanese defense department detected a total of 1,334 PLA military aircraft and vessels operating near the island in the first half of this year, the lowest record in three years.

In response, Jiang Bin stated at the press conference, "Taiwan is a part of China, and the PLA's activities in the relevant maritime and aerial areas are entirely justified; the timing and organization are all arranged accordingly."

Additionally, Jiang Bin stated at the press conference that the more the DPP authorities shout "national defense for all," the more "no one is willing to fight," as more and more Taiwanese people see through the essence of the DPP authorities' attempts to provoke war and harm Taiwan and its people, and are bravely standing up to say no to "Taiwan independence."

"The blood ties and shared destiny of compatriots on both sides of the strait should unite in heart and mind, uphold national righteousness, firmly oppose 'Taiwan independence' separatism, jointly maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, promote peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and create a beautiful future of national reunification and national rejuvenation," Jiang Bin emphasized.