BEIJING, Nov 21 (KUNA) -- China on Friday condemned Japan's exports of lethal weapons for the first time since easing constraints on military exportation declared in December 2023.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maon Ning, at a news conference, reacted to reports that Japan exported locally made "Patriot type" missiles to the US, increased defense spending and amended "the tripartite nuclear principles." The Chinese news agency, Xinhua, quoted Mao as saying Japan had loosened the armament restrictions on itself, boosting its military capabilities in the recent years. Moreover, Tokyo increased its defense budget for the 13th consecutive year, enacted a new law to relieve itself of the self-imposed ban as to the right of self-defense, she elaborated.
Furthermore, the Japanese have been seeking to modify the three principles; non-possession, no-exportation and non-production of nuclear arms," she added.
All these developments indicate that Japan has transformed its policy of pure defense to re-arming, the spokesperson said.
Japan should honor the treaties that compel it to abstain from re-arming, she said, alluding among these accords the "surrender concord" at the end of World War II.
Chinese officials have repeatedly expressed concerns about the Japanese tendency to alter the defensive policy of the nation that had adopted a pacifist approach after the second Great War. (end) slq.rk