The Launcher Unit of the “Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile (Upgraded)” is unveiled in Camp Kengun of the Ground Self-Defense Force in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, March 17, 2026. /VCG
China expressed severe issues on Wednesday over Japan’s current deployment of long-range missiles able to putting enemy bases, a transfer introduced by Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Tuesday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning emphasised that Japan’s determination to deploy offensive weapons below the guise of “defense” and “counter-strike” goes far past the boundaries of “self-defense” and “exclusively defensive” insurance policies.
Mao argued that this motion violates key worldwide authorized devices such because the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and Japan’s Instrument of Surrender. It additionally contradicts Japan’s structure and home rules.Â
She additional identified that this transfer displays the rising affect of right-wing forces in Japan, pushing the nation’s safety insurance policies towards a extra offensive and expansionist course.
The newly deployed missiles’ ‘counter-strike’ functionality would enable Japan to launch a preemptive response if it believes an adversary is making ready to assault, that means any miscalculation might result in a prohibited preemptive strike.
Mao warned that Japan’s “new militarism” poses a severe menace to regional peace and stability, urging the worldwide neighborhood to stay vigilant. The spokesperson additionally famous that many Japanese teams and residents have expressed opposition to those developments.
Furthermore, Mao referenced a current incident the place a Japanese Self-Defense Forces officer unlawfully entered the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo carrying a knife. She criticized Japan for failing to handle inside points concerning the shortage of oversight over its Self-Defense Forces, whereas as an alternative specializing in stoking exterior threats and accelerating army enlargement, a trajectory she described as extremely harmful.
China strongly urged Japan to replicate on its militaristic historical past, honor its commitments in army and safety issues, and proceed with warning, Mao mentioned.
Source: CGTN