Following recent Foreign Ministry warnings, China has urged the United States to join a united front against resurgent Japanese militarism, citing threats to its Taiwan interests. State media highlight Tokyo's blurring of civilian-military lines, including PM Sanae Takaichi's nuclear armament proposal.
China urges US to unite against Japanese militarism
Building on the Foreign Ministry's recent warnings about Japan's accelerating remilitarization, Beijing has called on the United States to form a united front against its revival. According to the South China Morning Post, this stems from Tokyo's blurring of civilian and military sectors, threatening China's core interests in Taiwan. State media Yuyuan Tantian spotlighted Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's suggestion to amend Constitution Article 9 to permit nuclear armament—a comment that has angered Beijing.
"We should rise above differences, cooperate with each other, and live up to our obligations as major countries ... and thwart any plot to revive the spectre of militarism," said Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington.
Taiwan is central to Beijing's interests, with China viewing the island as its territory subject to reunification, potentially by force. While most countries, including Japan and the US, do not recognize Taiwan's independence, Washington arms the self-governed island against forcible takeover. Since Takaichi's remarks, Beijing has refused retractions and pursued diplomatic and economic retaliations.
The call addresses wider Asia-Pacific stability concerns, drawing from experts at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association and China National Nuclear Corporation's Nuclear Strategic Planning Research Institute. Beijing seeks US collaboration to counter Japan's militarization trends.
