BEIJING: TOKYO'S REMILITARIZATION PLANS POSE A THREAT TO REGIONAL STABILITY

BEIJING, NOVEMBER 6 /SRNA/ – China believes that Japan's remilitarization and its repeated departures from the policy of exclusively defense-oriented security pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability and call into question the post-war international order, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

Commenting on reports that the Japanese government plans to adopt updated versions of three key security documents in December, he said Japan's accelerated efforts to revise these documents, increase military spending, and develop offensive military capabilities indicate an intention to speed up the process of remilitarization.

"The so-called greatest strategic challenge is merely an excuse Japan is using to expand its military capabilities under the guise of defence," Guo said.

He noted that concerns are growing within Japan itself over the country's departure from its long-standing commitment to being a "peace-loving nation," as well as over the serious consequences such a policy could have for the economy and the living standards of its people, China Media Group reported.

Referring to history, Guo stressed that Japanese militarists had committed grave crimes and inflicted immense suffering on the peoples of the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. "These lessons are still fresh and must not be forgotten," he said.