Global Times: When asked to comment on reports that Japan has recently started to field long-range missiles with a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers, capable of reaching coastal areas of neighboring countries, Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, said at a regular press conference on Wednesday that with the planned fielding of long-range offensive weapons whose range far exceeds its territorial boundaries, Japan has completely stripped away its pretense of “exclusively defense-oriented” principle, “passive defense” strategy and “self-defense” policy.
Jiang’s remarks came after some Japanese media outlets reported that Japan will deploy its homegrown longer-range missiles in the country for the first time this month, as part of its “counterstrike capability” to deter enemies – and potentially strike far-away targets.
Japan’s Defense Ministry has delivered equipment capable of launching extended-range anti-ship missiles to a Ground Self-Defense Force camp in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, NHK News reported on Monday.
The missile is an upgraded version of the Type 12 land-to-ship guided missile that can fly about 1,000 kilometers, Mainichi reported.
The Japan Times claimed that the deployment, which the Japanese Defense Ministry moved forward by one year, comes as the Chinese military ramps up its training around Japan’s far-flung islands near Taiwan island.
In response, Jiang said this speaks volumes about the neo-militarism in Japan, which has become more than just a perilous tendency, but a very real threat that may wreak havoc to regional peace and security.
Japan’s dangerous moves have also drawn opposition from local residents. NHK News reported that protesters rallied outside the camp to oppose the deployment. Some carried placards saying, “No missiles!”
For some time now, right-wing forces in Japan have made frequent moves to accelerate remilitarization, including the push to amend the pacifist Constitution, expediting revisions to the three national security documents, and the attempt to alter the three non-nuclear principles, Jiang said.
“Let me make it clear to the Japanese side: retreating to its belligerent and militarist past leads nowhere but self-destruction,” said Jiang, noting that should the Japanese side dare to use force to violate China’s sovereignty and security, it will only meet a head-on blow and suffer a greater and inevitable defeat.
