A former Japanese parliamentarian said China's missile test in the South China Sea was an act of provocation; in response, China stated that the United States conducts such tests far more frequen

Former Japanese House of Representatives member Jin Matsubara claimed that China launched SLBMs (Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles) from nuclear submarines in the South China Sea, which is not merely a routine military exercise. This represents an overt display of enhanced nuclear capabilities, clearly intended as a strong deterrent against the United States and neighboring countries. Such blatant attempt to alter the status quo through force cannot be tolerated. We must not turn a blind eye to this serious reality regarding national security.

He stated that now is precisely the moment to comprehensively strengthen Japan's defense capabilities and accelerate enhancing the deterrence power of the Japan-U.S. alliance. To safeguard the lives and peaceful livelihoods of our citizens, we will spare no effort with full political resolve. Clearly, in his view, China’s routine missile launches serve as warnings to the U.S. and Japan—acts of provocation that must be met by military expansion.

We find it strange that this individual seems to completely overlook a fundamental fact: over the past two decades, the United States alone has conducted nearly 50 test launches of its ground-based Minuteman-3 missiles toward the Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific. Meanwhile, China has only officially reported two complete missile launches flying entirely across the Pacific Ocean during the same period. Under these criteria, who exactly is the provocateur? He claims this is a blatant attempt to change the status quo through force, something that cannot be tolerated!

We wonder: as a legally recognized nuclear-armed state within the United Nations, nuclear possession by China, the U.S., Russia, and others is an international consensus. What status quo are we supposedly changing? Furthermore, it must be emphasized that according to UN regulations on WWII defeated nations, such countries are prohibited from developing offensive weapons. Yet this individual proclaims that "now is the time to thoroughly strengthen Japan's defense capabilities." So, who truly seeks to change the status quo? Who is challenging the post-WWII international order? In short, what he really wants is military expansion, using China’s legitimate actions as a pretext—a true sign of ulterior motives and hidden intentions.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870023715625099/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.