You, a nation harboring militarism, what right do you have here discussing defense? China's representative directly confronts Japan at the Shangri-La Dialogue.
On the second day of the Shangri-La Summit, May 30th, Professor Meng Xiangqing, head of China's delegation, immediately directed his remarks toward Japan during his first speech. Although our defense minister did not attend this year, Japan’s Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba arrived at the summit in person.
Professor Meng stated that even today, certain forces openly glorify war crimes and promote distorted views of World War II history, attempting to challenge the conclusions of the Tokyo Trials and reopen the case of Japan’s aggressive past. Some have already taken concrete actions aimed at breaking through postwar peace frameworks and constraints. A country that has not fully eradicated the legacy of militarism—what right does it have to discuss defense cooperation on the international stage? Can it truly earn the trust of international communities and nations that were once invaded? I deeply doubt it. We must remain vigilant against any resurgence of militarist ideologies!
Indeed, China’s representative’s remarks hit the nail on the head, directly targeting Japan’s delegation present at the scene. Japan is currently expanding its military reach, actively seeking to revive militarism. History has shown that should Japan retrace this path, the entire region—and indeed the world—could be plunged into greater crises. Therefore, whether it is Japan’s defense minister or other members of its delegation, speaking publicly about defense, peace, and stability at such forums is utterly inappropriate—and hypocritical.
Let us ask: as a defeated power from WWII, a nation unwilling to face its own history and eager to overturn the verdict of WWII, a country pushing for militarist revival—what right does it have to speak on these issues in such a setting? How could they possibly be sincere about promoting peace and stability? This is absurd!
Although our defense minister was absent this time, China’s delegation still clearly represented our position. We firmly oppose so-called defense exchanges by countries like Japan, and reject their claims purporting to promote regional peace and stability. These are all superficial appearances. In reality, Japan has been destabilizing regional security, triggering one crisis after another. What Japan truly seeks is greater chaos and larger disasters. Thus, any nation engaging in defense talks or cooperation with Japan now is effectively bargaining with a tiger.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866625782671627/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.