China's Defense Ministry on Friday issued a strongly worded statement criticizing Japan’s plans to increase defense spending, accusing Tokyo of turning up the temperature on regional tensions.
Amid ongoing territorial tensions between Beijing and Tokyo in
the East China Sea, Japan this week announced a five-year defense
plan that has attracted an uncharacteristically outspoken
response from China.
China "resolutely opposes" the five-year defense plan
adopted by Japan on Tuesday, Defense Ministry spokesman Geng
Yansheng said in a statement posted on the ministry's website.
Tokyo is attempting to sell a so-called "proactive
pacifism" under the pretext of safeguarding national
security, Geng said.
Japan "continues to deny its history of World War II
aggression, challenge the post-war order, and harm the feelings
of the people of those victimized nations," he said.
"We urge Japan to reflect deeply on its history, strictly
adhere to its commitment to peaceful development, and take
concrete measures to improve relations with its neighbors to play
a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and
development," Geng said.
Under the plan adopted Tuesday, Japan will boost defense spending
by 5 percent over the next five years to purchase new military
hardware, including its first surveillance drones, US-made F-35
stealth fighters and Aegis combat systems.
The statement hinted at China’s concern over Japan’s military
relationship with the United States, which has recently shifted
the weight of its military apparatus to Asia.
Japan is making an effort to ensure the security and prosperity
of the international community, but at the same time it is
clinging to a Cold War mentality and beefing up its military
alliance with relevant countries, he said.
Last year, US President Barack Obama made a speech to the
Australian parliament where he said: “As a Pacific nation,
the United States will play a larger and long-term role in
shaping this region and its future.”
China’s obvious discomfort over Japan’s military buildup is just
the latest source of tension between the two Asian powers.
Beijing and Tokyo are also at loggerheads over an uninhabited
chain of islands in the East China Sea – referred to as the
Senkaku Islands by Japan and the Diaoyu Islands by China.
After the Japanese government bought three of the eight islands
from a private owner in September 2012, violent protests erupted
in several Chinese cities. Since then, Chinese naval vessels have
routinely confronted Japanese ships in the area, raising fears of
an incident.
Late last month, China warned that all aircraft entering a vast
area over the East China Sea should identify themselves and
follow China's instructions.