BEIJING, July 16 -- "Japan, in an attempt to justify its move to loosen the restraints on its military, has been fabricating false narratives, grossly hyping up the "China threat" rhetoric, and blatantly interfering in China's internal affairs. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to such actions, and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side," said Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, on Wednesday.
According to reports, Japan has recently released the Defense of Japan 2025 white paper, which continues to label China as "an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge", falsely accuses China of making "unilateral changes to the status quo by force," and makes inappropriate remarks on the Taiwan question.
In response to that, Chinese defense spokesperson Jiang Bin pointed out that Japanese militarism once inflicted profound suffering on China and other Asian neighbors. Instead of seriously reflecting on its past, Japan is once again showing dangerous tendencies towards military expansion, significantly increasing its defense budget, steadily loosening restrictions on arms exports, forming small military blocs to promote confrontation, and even suggesting revisions to its Three Non-Nuclear Principles. The spokesperson stressed that these actions have gravely violated Japan's pacifist constitution and its exclusively defense-oriented policy, severely undermined the post-war international order, and posed a serious challenge to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. "They have already triggered deep concern and heightened vigilance among neighboring Asian countries and the international community," the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson continued that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan. The return of Taiwan to China in 1945 is an important part of the fruits of victory of World War II and the post-war international order. China urges Japan to profoundly learn from historical lessons, stop smearing and accusing China, earnestly abide by the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and its commitments on the Taiwan question, and take concrete actions to promote the sound and stable development of China-Japan relations.