Japan's rash action of remilitarization poses true threat to regional peace and stability, said Chen Xi, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference in Beijing on Friday.
Chen made the remarks in response to a media query about Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force's live-fire test of a Tomahawk cruise missile lately and its Air Self-Defense Force's test of a new-type missile.
"Japan's moves to accelerate its development of offensive weapons are increasingly rampant and perilous, deserving high vigilance among regional countries. Facts have proven that the Japanese side's so-called 'neighboring security threat' is merely an excuse for it to break free from its pacifist constitution and 'exclusively defense-oriented' policy to accelerate remilitarization. The real threat to Japan's security and regional peace and stability is exactly its rash action to ramp up military buildup and accelerate remilitarization. The nightmare of war must not repeat itself and peace must be upheld. The international community must get united and take action to jointly contain the rise of Japan's neo-militarism and prevent it from plunging the world into turmoil," Chen said.
Japan's remilitarization threatens regional peace, stability: spokesman
Japan's remilitarization threatens regional peace, stability: spokesman
Japan's remilitarization threatens regional peace, stability: spokesman
A growing number of motorists in Iraq are turning to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a cost-effective and readily accessible alternative to gasoline, a shift driven by mounting concerns over fuel prices, supply reliability and declining fuel quality, with implications that extend beyond household savings to Iraq's broader energy sector.
An auto workshop in Erbil, capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, is one of many helping Iraqi motorists switch from gasoline to LPG. By installing an additional fuel system, drivers can reduce their reliance on gasoline while keeping the option to use it. For many drivers, the main motivation for adding the LPG system is economical.
"The difference is going to be very significant. Instead of spending 350,000 dinars (around 230 U.S. dollars) per month on gasoline, I'll now spend around 60,000 dinars on gas. Overall, this is going to make a very big difference in my running costs," said Haider Baha-Adin, an Iraqi driver.
But it's not just about saving money. For many motorists, switching to LPG also means avoiding long waits at gasoline stations.
"Just to get gasoline, I sometimes have to wait in line for three hours before I reach the station. With gas, that isn't the case. There are no such queues, so I can fill up very easily," said Baha-Adin.
The growing demand for LPG is also keeping mechanics busy. At the workshop in Erbil, technicians install LPG systems in around 5 to 10 vehicles a day. Installation costs vary depending on the vehicle and the type of system, ranging from several hundred to more than 800 U.S. dollars.
But cost and convenience aren't the only factors behind the shift. Workshop owner Saif Saad says concerns over declining gasoline quality are also pushing drivers toward LPG.
"The gasoline is not good, its octane rating has been declining, and its quality is poor. People are worried about their cars. GDI (gasoline direct injection) vehicles, GDI engines, and regular engines experience knocking and delayed combustion in the chamber," said Saif Saad, owner of the World Gas Systems workshop.
However, the growing demand is also creating challenges. Saad say his workshop is facing difficulties securing the equipment needed for LPG installations, especially with the current instability in the region which has disrupted supply chains.
Beyond the savings for motorists, the growing demand for alternative fuels could also have wider economic implications, creating new opportunities for investment in Iraq's energy sector.
"The Kurdistan Regional Government has a plan to invest in gas along with the oil because we used to invest in oil only, but nowadays the government is looking for alternatives, because that's a new, emerging trend and an emerging business for the government to help with the budget at the same time, to help the citizen. The government is trying to focus on LPG and electric vehicles," said Nabaz Nawzad, dean of the College of Administration and Economy at Lebanese French University in Erbil.
Iraqi motorists turn to LPG amid fuel price hikes, quality concerns
