Japan accelerating remilitarization a 'reality'

Japan's acceleration of its remilitarization is a fact and reality that involve "concrete plans and actions", China's Foreign Ministry has warned.

The warning was made as Sergey Shoigu, secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council, told Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday in Beijing that Russia firmly opposes Japan's accelerated attempts at remilitarization.

When asked about Shoigu's comments, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Tuesday, "The lessons of history are not far behind."

Article 9 of Japan's pacifist Constitution states that "the right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized".

However, after World War II, Japan "has never made a complete break with militarism", Lin said, noting the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo still enshrines 14 Class-A war criminals.

Japanese right-wing forces are attempting to downplay and whitewash the facts of the country's history of aggression through means such as revising history textbooks, he said.

In addition, Tokyo has accelerated its military buildup, with its defense budget increasing for 14 consecutive years and government officials openly advocating for nuclear armament, he added.

Lin said Japan has continued to advance its plan of converting destroyers into miniature aircraft carriers. It is developing and acquiring medium — and long-range missiles with ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometers, he said.

Last year, Japan exported domestically produced Patriot missile interceptors to the United States for the first time, and it exported destroyers, breaking through restrictions on lethal weapons exports, he said.

"China and all peace-loving nations must join hands to thwart the ambitions of Japan's right-wing forces in advancing remilitarization, and jointly safeguard the outcomes of World War II and the hard-won world peace," he said.

Lyu Yaodong, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Japanese Studies and a professor at the University of the CASS, said the Japanese government "is gearing up down its path of expanding military capabilities".

Tokyo has been continuously increasing its defense budget "despite the sluggish domestic economy and major difficulties in people's livelihood", he said.

In November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi publicly indicated Japan's possible military intervention in Taiwan, and the country announced plans to revise key security documents.

"Tokyo's ultimate goal is to once again fully arm Japan in an attempt to realize the target of making the country an unlimited, normal military power," Lyu added.

zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn