China urges Japan to abandon nuclear ambitions, reflect on militarist past

China urged Japan to abandon its nuclear ambitions and reflect on the crimes of Japanese militarists in the past, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Mao made the statement when commenting on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's relevant remarks.

"The remarks once again revealed Japanese authorities' inflating ambitions of possessing nuclear weapons. The current Japanese administration has been turning a blind eye to its international obligations on non-proliferation, attempting to progressively ease nuclear restrictions, strengthen the so-called extended deterrence arrangement with its allies, ditch the three non-nuclear principles, and introduce nuclear-powered submarines, and even seeking to deploy nuclear weapons in Japan. Such moves pose a serious threat to peace and stability in Asia and the wider world," Mao said.

"There is no room for consideration for Japan to follow the postwar international order and honor its international obligations. Japan should face up to the concerns of the international community, do serious soul-searching on Japanese militarists' past crimes, abandon remilitarization and nuclear attempt, and do not stand on the opposite side of the international community once again," she said.

China urges Japan to abandon nuclear ambitions, reflect on militarist past

As the sweet-scented osmanthus flowers reach full bloom in Pucheng County, east China's Fujian Province -- known as "China's hometown of osmanthus" -- the region is experiencing a surge in tourism and a thriving flower-processing industry.

A thousand-year-old osmanthus tree located in Linjiang Town has become a major draw, attracting visitors from across the country.

Tourist Wu expressed delight at the experience.

"On the way to Pucheng, the plants lining both sides are all osmanthus trees -- it was such a pleasant surprise. When the wind blows, it carries a sweet fragrance, making me very much refreshed and happy," said a tourist surnamed Wu.

The blooming period is also a harvest season. In Pucheng's Xianyang Town, workers are busy collecting osmanthus flowers to produce this year's osmanthus tea.

Beyond tea, the orange osmanthus flowers are processed into various specialty products including osmanthus honey and pastries. The local industry now spans seedling cultivation, fresh flower harvesting, scented tea processing, and cultural tourism, forming an integrated supply chain that extends well beyond sightseeing.

Osmanthus blooms in Pucheng, fueling tourism, economy