BEIJING: China urged Japan on Friday to face squarely and deeply reflect on Japan’s history of aggression, take concrete actions to show remorse for the crimes committed by Japanese militarists and respect to the victims, and not further compound the wrongdoing while slamming Tokyo’s plan to significantly increase its defense budget as further exposing the sinister intent of Japanese right-wing forces to push for remilitarization and attempt a revival of militarism.
Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at Friday’s press conference when asked for comments on Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova’s remarks at a briefing responding to a question about Japanese leader’s possible visit to Yasukuni Shrine, in which Zakharova condemned Japan’s attempts to whitewash its history of militarist aggression and war crimes, and said Japan should construct a memorial hall dedicated to the victims of Japanese militarism as a way to atone for the crimes it has committed.
Lin said the Yasukuni Shrine is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarists’ war of aggression, and that it enshrines 14 Class-A war criminals responsible for Japan’s aggression in the 1930s and 40s.
China stands ready to work with the international community, including Russia, to firmly defend the outcomes of the WWII victory and the post-war international order, strictly prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism and jointly safeguard world peace and stability, Lin noted. Also on Friday, the Japanese government approved the fiscal 2026 budget, according to multiple Japanese media reports, with defense spending exceeding 9 trillion yen (about $57.56 billion) for the first time, setting a new record high.
The budget plan aims to strengthen defense capabilities and coastal defense, deploying cruise missiles and unmanned weapons to respond to escalating regional tensions, according to media reports.
Lin said despite recent international criticism over latest military and security developments in Japan, the Japanese side has shown no inclination to mend its conduct, and instead plans to again hike defense budget, further revealing Japanese right-wing forces’ motive to remilitarize Japan and resurrect militarism.
Since the new Japanese government took office, it has been notably accelerating military buildup. From Prime Minister Takaichi’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan that threatens the use of force against China, to the remarks of a senior official of the Japanese Prime Minister’s office calling for Japan’s possession of nuclear weapons, and to the proposed revision of the three national security documents and the idea of altering the three non-nuclear principles, Japan is deviating further and further away from the path of peaceful development and moving in a dangerous direction, Lin warned. –The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
