Japan's push for 'neo-militarism' must be curbed

Recently, Japan has groundlessly labeled China's lawful measures to strengthen export controls on dual-use items to Japan -- measures taken to safeguard national security interests -- as so-called "economic coercion."

This blatant distortion of facts only reveals Japan's obstinate refusal to reflect on its own wrongdoings and its insistence on going further down the wrong and dangerous path.

Japan is well aware of the underlying reasons for China's relevant actions. Attempts to deflect blame through labeling cannot obscure the international community's widespread concerns over Japan's departure from the path of peaceful development and its resurgence of militaristic tendencies.

Imposing export controls on dual-use items is an internationally accepted practice. It reflects a shared responsibility to safeguard international peace and security and serves as an essential means of fulfilling international obligations, including those related to non-proliferation.

As a responsible major country, China's lawful imposition of regulatory control on relevant items exemplifies its unwavering commitment to safeguarding world peace and regional stability.

Japan's distortion of this legitimate and rule-based exercise of sovereignty as "coercion" lays bare its intent: to deflect international attention and conceal its own persistent actions that undermine both the international order and regional peace.

Japan's "neo-militarism" is no longer merely a warning sign -- it has become a tangible threat and must prompt the highest vigilance among all peace-loving and justice-seeking actors in the international community.

Japanese leaders have made erroneous remarks on the Taiwan question, openly issuing threats of force against China and grossly interfering in China's internal affairs. Such actions seriously violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations, with extremely grave nature and implications.

Japan's right wing has intensified its challenges to the postwar international order, undermining regional peace and stability and jeopardizing world peace and security.

According to Japanese media reports, Japan has recently claimed it will push to revise its "three security documents" within the year, reflecting an acceleration of its remilitarization process. Particularly alarming are indications of Japanese ambitions regarding nuclear armament.

Particularly alarming are indications of Japan's ambitions regarding nuclear armament. For some time, Japan has continuously sought to revise the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," with politicians repeatedly making public pro-nuclear statements.

This constitutes a serious challenge to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and represents a stark departure from Japan's professed commitment to peaceful development, provoking strong opposition and condemnation.

Curbing the resurgence of Japan's "neo-militarism" is vital for regional peace and stability. China's legally mandated prohibition on the export of all dual-use items to Japanese military users, for Japan's military use, and for any other end-users and end-use purposes that help enhance Japan's military capabilities -- are precisely justified and necessary actions to defend peace and security.

Japan's peddling of the so-called Chinese "economic coercion" is merely another act in its well-rehearsed "victim" play. Safeguarding regional peace and stability requires calling out and dismantling such insidious rhetoric.

The genuine source of coercion threatening regional peace and security is Japan's ever-expanding ambition for military expansion. While Japan attempts to discredit neighboring countries by claiming actions inconsistent with international practice, it is Japan that has repeatedly contravened its international legal obligations.

Even domestically, the primary threat stems from right-wing forces dedicated to neo-militarism. Calculations based on Japan's approved supplementary budget suggest its fiscal year 2025 defense expenditure could reach approximately 11 trillion yen (about $71.18 billion), imposing a per capita burden of about 90,000 yen. This reckless military expansion not only threatens regional peace but also depletes domestic economic resources and undermines public welfare.

Rather than leveling groundless accusations against other countries, Japan should seriously address the grave concerns of the international community and its own citizens regarding its dangerous return to militarism.

Furthermore, Japan's professed commitment to resolving issues with China through dialogue is contradicted by its repeated provocations concerning China's core interests and fundamental principles. This contradiction severely damages Japan's credibility.

The international community, particularly countries in the region, has long seen through Japan's double-dealing tactics and will never permit its "neo-militarism" to undermine the hard-won peace and stability in the region.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)