China Refutes Japan's Defense White Paper Claims as Fabrications

A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, Jiang Bin, has responded sharply to the allegations made in Japan's newly released annual defense white paper, stating that these accusations are unfounded and are merely a strategy to justify Japan's ongoing military expansion. In the paper, titled "Defense of Japan 2025," China is depicted as an "unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge," a characterization that Jiang vehemently rejects.

Furthermore, Jiang pointed out that the white paper falsely claims China is physically altering the status quo and makes disparaging remarks about Taiwan. He indicated that Japan is inflating the so-called "China threat," while simultaneously meddling in China’s internal matters, which he asserted has caused significant dissatisfaction in China. This dissatisfaction has led to stern representations being made to Japan.

Drawing attention to Japan's past, Jiang reminded that Japanese militarism had inflicted profound suffering on China and its Asian neighbors. He criticized Japan for failing to reckon with its history of aggression and for straying down the perilous path of military expansion, which includes an increasing defense budget and a relaxation of arms export restrictions. These actions, as argued by Jiang, contravene Japan's constitution and its exclusive defense principle, posing a threat to the stability and peace of the Asia-Pacific region.

Referring to the ongoing historical context, Jiang noted that this year commemorates the 80th anniversary of key victories in World War II, specifically highlighting that Taiwan's return to China in 1945 was crucial in shaping the postwar international framework. He called on Japan to learn from these historical lessons and to cease its criticisms directed at China.

Additionally, Jiang urged Japan to respect the four political documents that govern Sino-Japanese relations and to focus on fostering constructive and stable relations between the two nations. On the same day, Liu Jinsong, the director-general for Asian Affairs in China's Foreign Ministry, summoned Japanese Embassy official Yokochi Akira to voice objections against the negative assertions made in the defense white paper regarding China.