Chinese Defense Ministry criticizes Japan's joint military exercise

A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson on Monday voiced opposition to Japan's joint military exercise and forward deployment of strategic offensive weapons, saying such moves increase the risk of confrontation in the region.

Jiang Bin, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to reports that Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force is conducting a joint exercise, dubbed "Orient Shield 26", with the United States and Australian armies in Japan's Hokkaido and Kagoshima from Sept 8 to 24.

Jiang said the exercise is aimed at advancing the forward deployment of strategic offensive weapons under the guise of a "shield", undermining the security interests of other countries and increasing the risks of a regional arms race and military confrontation, thereby posing a serious threat to regional peace and stability. "We firmly oppose this," Jiang said.

According to reports, the US Typhon mid-range missile system will participate in the exercise for the first time. Jiang pointed out that Japan has repeatedly breached the principles of its pacifist Constitution and its exclusively defense-oriented policy by developing long-range offensive weapons and accelerating its "remilitarization" through overseas military exercises.

He criticized Japan's military expansion toward a new form of militarism, saying it caters to the interests of countries outside the region while introducing bloc confrontation and creating tensions in the region.

"Any move that fuels Japan's military ambitions will only plunge the region into a dangerous vortex and will eventually bring harm to the country itself," Jiang said.

He urged the countries concerned to respect the security concerns of other countries, correct their erroneous practices, and contribute positively to regional peace and stability through concrete actions.