The international community must show high vigilance and resolute opposition to a senior Japanese official's remarks that Japan should possess nuclear weapons, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.
A senior official in charge of security and defense at the Japanese Prime Minister's Office told reporters that Japan should have nuclear weapons. Japanese Defense Minister later said that they left open the possibility of Japan reviewing its non-nuclear principles in the future. These remarks were met with strong criticism from various sectors in Japan and its neighboring countries.
"China is shocked that a senior official from Japanese Prime Minister's Office who is close to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi brazenly claimed that Japan should have nuclear weapons. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary declined to make clarifications on the remarks. Asked about possible revisions to the three non-nuclear principles, Japan's Defense Minister said, 'all options would be discussed'," said Lin.
"Given previous Japanese media reports that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to revise the three non-nuclear principles, the above-mentioned statements amount to a blatant challenge to the post-war international order and the nuclear non-proliferation regime, a serious threat to regional and international peace and stability, and a U-turn from Japan's commitment to 'peaceful development'. Stressing that the idea is a 'personal view' is not convincing at all. The international community should be on high alert and firmly against it," said the spokesman.
"If Japan further pushes the envelop and continues to challenge international justice and test the bottom line of the international community, China's response will be a firm 'No'. China and all peace-loving countries in the world are on high alert and firmly opposed to the dangerous tendency Japan has shown on the issue of nuclear weapons, and strongly urge Japan to abide by international law and its Constitution and stop the venturing and provocative moves towards owning nuclear weapons. Japan must not seek to challenge the post-war international order, and stop plunging further down the wrong path," he said.
China urges opposition to Japanese official's remarks about possessing nuclear weapons
China urges opposition to Japanese official's remarks about possessing nuclear weapons
