China slams Japan's remilitarization bid

Japan's expanding military deployments and efforts to strengthen military cooperation with other countries show that it is accelerating its remilitarization, posing a threat to regional security, a Chinese defense spokesman said on Thursday.

Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to reports that the United States and Japan had conducted their largest-ever "Keen Sword 27" joint exercise from Oct 19 to Thursday.

The exercise focused on island-seizure operations, according to reports. Japan's Self-Defense Forces deployed the long-range Type-25 surface-to-ship missile during the exercise, while the US Marine Corps deployed its Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System for the first time on Yonaguni Island, which is geographically close to Taiwan.

Zhang said the Asia-Pacific is a region of peace and development, adding that attempts to provoke bloc confrontation run counter to public sentiment.

Japan is aligning with certain countries through so-called joint exercises, developing and deploying medium — and long-range missiles, and continuously strengthening its military presence on its southwestern islands, he said.

"These moves show that Japan is accelerating its remilitarization and is becoming a real threat to regional security," he added.

Regarding the Taiwan question, Zhang said it is China's internal affair and that China will never allow external forces to interfere in its Taiwan region.

"No one should underestimate China's firm resolve, determination and strong capability to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Zhang said, warning that any attempt to use Taiwan to contain China or engage in reckless military provocations would incur an unbearable cost.

Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi recently argued that Japan possesses neither nuclear weapons nor strategic bombers, whereas China has both, yet criticizes Japan. He also said Japan would restructure its defense research institute.

In response, Zhang said that, as a defeated country in World War II, Japan must abide by the restrictions on military development set out in international instruments such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, as well as in Japan's Constitution.

He also noted that Japan, as a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has an inescapable obligation to honor its commitments.

"These commitments are by no means a political bargaining chip," Zhang said.

He accused Koizumi of using his remarks to evade Japan's historical crimes, selectively ignore international law, distort facts and mislead the public.

"Despite Japan's attempts to obscure the facts, the international community can see through its dangerous schemes of military buildup and even seeking to introduce and acquire nuclear weapons," Zhang added.

He urged Japan to face up to and reflect on its history of aggression, make a clean break with militarism, and refrain from placing itself once again on the opposite side of the international community.

lishangyi@chinadaily.com.cn