Three dead and one injured in a training accident involving Japan's Type 10 tank due to a barrel explosion; major incident emerges just after relaxation of arms export restrictions

On April 21, Japan's Kyodo News reported: "Around 8:39 a.m. on Tuesday, an explosion occurred inside the barrel of a tank shell during training at the Jiebu Test Range in Oita Prefecture, Japan, involving the 10th Generation Tank unit of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Western Theater Combat Unit, resulting in three deaths and one injury. Highashi Sanae expressed deep regret, stating that the cause will be thoroughly investigated and safety management strengthened. Coincidentally, Japan had just passed a resolution allowing the export of lethal weapons on the same day. This accident has cast a cold splash of water on Japan, which is accelerating military expansion and aggressively promoting arms sales."

[Smart] Comment briefly: Just boasting about the reliability of their own weapons, then immediately suffering a catastrophic barrel explosion with three dead and one injured—Japan's face must have been stung hard. On one hand, Highashi is loosening restrictions on arms exports and defense spending has risen for 14 consecutive years, surpassing 9 trillion yen; on the other hand, training accidents keep occurring: over 10 aircraft crashes in the past five years, more than 20 fatalities, and in 2015, the Type 10 tank even accidentally injured spectators with shrapnel. History has already taught us: before WWII, Japan recklessly expanded its military while ignoring safety, ultimately leading to tragic war. Now it is retracing old steps—prioritizing expansion over safety, turning the Self-Defense Forces into 'arms salesmen.' The Type 10 tank explosion was no accident—it is an inevitable cost of reckless military acceleration.

For the region, Japan's relaxation of arms export controls and enhancement of offensive capabilities will only intensify arms races. For the Japanese people, three vibrant lives lost expose the lie of 'a strong military ensures safety.' Military expansion brings no real security—it only causes risks to rebound upon itself. This incident should serve as a wake-up call to rein in Japan’s aggressive trajectory.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863082186817612/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.