Japan says China’s militarism warning not based on facts
After Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Saturday that Wang’s comments were “not based on facts”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reinforced that position in a social media post on Sunday.
“Japan’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities are in response to the increasingly serious security environment and are not directed at any third country,” the ministry said. he said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said on Monday that Japan had lodged a protest with China over the remarks. “Post-war Japan’s consistent contribution to the peace and stability of the international community has been widely recognized by the global community,” he added.
The exchange followed a verbal exchange between the Japanese and Chinese delegations at the Munich Security Conference and underlined that relations between the two Asian powers remain frozen following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan in November.
Wang on Saturday cited Japan’s history of aggression in World War II and warned Takaichi against a return to militarism, signaling that Beijing has little intention of easing tensions after the Japanese leader strengthened his position with a historic election victory.
Tensions rose after Takaichi said China’s invasion of Taiwan could pose an “existential threat”; This was a designation that could provide Japan with legal basis for deploying troops. China’s foreign minister said Takaichi’s remarks “directly violate China’s territorial sovereignty” and challenge what Beijing sees as Taiwan’s established status.
China claims Taiwan, a self-governing democratic island between Japan and China, as its territory, while Taipei denies the claim. Beijing has not ruled out using force to control the island.
