China says Japan's nuclear ambition is 'red line that should never be crossed'

BEIJING -- China on Thursday sternly warned against Japan's nuclear ambition, saying it is "a red line that should never be crossed."

Speaking at a press conference, Jiang Bin, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, described recent remarks by the Japanese defense minister as "extremely provocative and dangerous," saying they had once again exposed Japan's pretense and lies to the international community.

"I wonder whether the Japanese side is using these remarks to test the tolerance of public opinion and pave the way for its ill attempts challenging the bottom line of international justice," Jiang said in response to a reporter's query.

His comments came after the Japanese defense chief said several times that Japan should discuss nuclear-weapon-related policies without taboos, including whether to revise the three non-nuclear principles that Japan has long been adhering to since the end of the World War II.

Jiang underscored that Japan is internationally recognized as a nuclear-threshold state and has stockpiled approximately 44.4 metric tons of separated plutonium and long maintained the capability for a rapid nuclear breakout.

He stressed that Japan's attempt to breach the three non-nuclear principles seriously violates its obligations under international law as stipulated in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, severely undermines the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and poses a grave threat to the outcomes of the victory of World War II and the post-war international order.

"Japan's nuclear ambition is a red line that should never be crossed. Otherwise, if the Pandora's box is opened, the consequences would be catastrophic," Jiang said, calling on the international community and people in Japan to remain highly vigilant and resolutely contain such a tendency.