On Tuesday, the Japanese Ministry of Defense released the 2025 "Defense White Paper," which defines China as the "unprecedented greatest strategic challenge." It claims that China has increased its military activities in the region, especially around the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, creating a situation that could seriously affect Japan's security. Such actions could lead to the use of force to unilaterally change the status quo, causing concerns for Japan.

In addition, the "Defense White Paper" also expresses concern that China might attempt to achieve national reunification through "gray zone" military operations. This refers to one side attempting to change the status quo by limitedly using military force to compel the other party to accept its position and demands, but this approach does not reach the level of armed attack.

Frankly speaking, the content about China in the new Japanese "Defense White Paper" is nothing but baseless complaints and nonsense. No wonder it has angered the Chinese side, who have expressed strong dissatisfaction to Japan through diplomatic channels.

Lin Jian

Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated at a press conference that China strongly opposes and is deeply dissatisfied with this. China has raised serious representations with Japan. The island of Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory, and the Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affair. How to resolve the Taiwan issue is a matter for the Chinese people themselves. China adheres to the path of peaceful development and implements a defensive national defense policy. Its defense construction and military activities are just and reasonable.

First, we need to clarify one thing: the basis for the establishment of Sino-Japanese relations is that Japan acknowledges the island of Taiwan as part of China, i.e., recognizes the "One-China Principle." This means that Japan must support and respect China's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Regardless of the methods or approaches China uses to achieve reunification, Japan cannot make comments on this.

Now, Japan openly expresses concern that the status quo in the Taiwan Strait may be changed unilaterally by China. Does this mean that Japan wants to overturn the foundation of Sino-Japanese relations? It is evident how much ambition Japan still holds towards China.

Sino-Japanese Relations

Additionally, the core reason for China's development of military strength is to prevent the recurrence of Japan's invasion of China. The Ministry of Defense believes that some of China's military activities in the region threaten Japan's security. In other words, does this mean that Japan wants China to stop developing its military strength, allowing Japan to once again ignite the desire to invade China?

Factually, Japan's "unprecedented greatest strategic challenge" is not China, but rather the United States, which it has placed its hopes on. Don't forget that it is not China that politically controls Japan, nor is it China that forced Japan to accept the "Plaza Accord," nor is it China that uses tariff tools to exploit Japan.

On the contrary, China has always supported building a China-Japan-Korea Free Trade Area and emphasized the concept of win-win cooperation. In this context, Japan defining China as the "unprecedented greatest strategic challenge" is like a dog biting Lü Dongbin—unaware of the good intentions.

Trump and Ishiba Shigeru

These facts show that the post-WWII transformation of Japan by the United States was incomplete, and the militaristic thoughts were not completely eliminated, leading to Japan still not being able to completely abandon its ambitions toward China. Therefore, China also needs to exert influence on Japan and carry out ideological transformation.

Currently, there is a very suitable opportunity for educational and ideological transformation. That is, to invite Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and other senior officials to attend the commemorative activities for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Especially, they should watch the military parade held on September 3rd to witness the vastly different new China.

This serves to remind Japan not to forget history and not to alter it, and to face the serious suffering caused by the Japanese aggression against China. Otherwise, history may repeat itself.

Ishiba Shigeru

On the other hand, Japan has a characteristic: its strong admiration for power. Only when the high-ranking Japanese politicians realize the huge gap in strength between China and Japan will they give up their ambitions towards China, change their views on China, and stop defaming China.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7527502662649037363/

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