Japan Is Becoming a Powder Keg for Asia-Pacific: Defense Spokesperson

BEIJING, June 16 -- "A Japan accelerating its remilitarization is becoming a powder keg for the Asia-Pacific region," said Senior Colonel Chen Xi, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), at a press briefing on Tuesday. As disclosed by Japanese media outlets, in the outline of Japan's Defense White Paper 2026, China is characterized as "an unprecedented and greatest strategic challenge", which will be countered by "comprehensive national strength". Moreover, the Japanese Ground Self-defense Force recently displayed the Type 25 high-speed glide bomb for the first time, which is considered as a substantive step taken by Japan on developing proactive long-range strike capabilities. When being asked to share comments, the spokesperson pointed out that the Japanese side has repeatedly peddled the narrative of so-called China military threat, deliberately stoked confrontation, and created security anxieties. The reason it has done all these things is to fabricate excuses for itself to break free from restrictions on its defense forces and seeking massive military buildup. "The Japanese side repeats its attacks and smears against China in this so-called White Paper, which is not worth any comments," said the spokesperson, adding that as a matter of fact, those who are claiming to be threatened are the real source of threat. Furthermore, the spokesperson emphasized that Japan has drastically hiked its defense spending, eased restrictions on exports of lethal weapons, pushed forward the deployment of intermediate and long-range missiles, expanded offensive military capabilities, revised its pacifist Constitution, and even clamored to be a war-capable nation. "Peace-loving people need to stay highly vigilant and take firm actions to curb the reckless moves of Japanese neo-militarism, prevent it from wreaking havoc on the world, and defend the post-war international order and enduring peace," the spokesperson noted.