Japan Is Accelerating Weaponization and Militarization of Space: Defense Spokesperson

BEIJING, July 9 -- "Japan's moves have accelerated the weaponization and militarization of space and fueled a space arms race," said a Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday. It is reported that Japan's House of Councilors recently passed an amendment to the Ministry of Defense Establishment Act, which intends to rename Japan Air Self-Defense Force to Japan Aerospace Self-Defense Force and establish the Space Operations Wing accordingly. In response to these reports, Senior Colonel Chen Xi, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) pointed out that Japan has openly included space as an operational domain and revealed its ambition of space military build-up in recent years. "Over the past five years, its military spending in relevant fields has increased tenfold and its operational forces have expanded over 30 times," said the spokesperson, adding that it is another proof that neo-militarism in Japan has become a real threat. Furthermore, the spokesperson emphasized that the lasting peace and security of space bear on the security, development and prosperity of countries around the world. "All peace-loving people should be on high alert against Japan's dangerous moves in space and resolutely contain the accelerated remilitarization pushed by the right wing forces in Japan, so as to safeguard the common home for humanity," stressed the spokesperson.