Reference News Network, November 19 report: The Ecuadorian Enza International News Agency website published an article titled "Japan Advances 'Militaristic Ambitions,' Sounds the Alarm for Peace in the Asia-Pacific Region and the World" on November 16. The author is Bangladeshi columnist Ibrahim Khalil Ahmed. The following is a translated version of the article:

New Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio recently made provocative remarks that sparked a fierce political storm across East Asia. Kishida hinted that a conflict across the Taiwan Strait could meet Japan's "situations of vital interest."

From the perspective of many international affairs observers and security analysts, this was not a slip of the tongue, but rather a deliberate signal: the strategic ambiguity adopted by previous Japanese governments is being replaced by a hardline stance on the Taiwan issue. This position is dangerous and reminiscent of Japan's militaristic era, which may disrupt regional peace and stability.

Kishida's remarks are closely related to the ongoing shift in Japan's defense policy. Japan is accelerating its plan to increase defense spending, aiming to raise it to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP).

The most concerning aspect is that Japan is moving towards building what it calls "retaliatory capabilities." According to this concept, if Japanese leaders determine that an attack is imminent, Japan could conduct long-range strikes against foreign territories. This fundamentally redefines the "exclusive defense" nature of Japan's post-war security framework.

Japan is also beginning to restructure its command architecture, establishing a permanent joint operations command, and deepening integration with the U.S. military in areas such as intelligence, target acquisition, and missile defense systems. On the conceptual level, Japan is expanding its military planning into "multi-domain operations," including cyber warfare and space warfare, which were once considered禁区 (forbidden areas) for this "peaceful nation."

The most shocking offensive act is that Japan is considering revising its long-standing "three principles of nuclear non-possessing." This potentially dangerous move marks a worrying shift in Japan's post-war security posture.

Historically, Japan's military aggression has always been justified by so-called "threats to survival." For many countries in the East Asian region, the danger lies not only in Japan's current trajectory but also in the historical memories it evokes. In the first half of the 20th century, Japan carried out imperialist expansion, marked by the annexation of the Korean Peninsula, invasion of China, the Nanjing Massacre, and occupation of Southeast Asian regions. These events have left deep collective memories throughout the region.

Kishida herself has long been associated with Japanese right-wing nationalism. While serving as a cabinet minister, she questioned wartime history and visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine multiple times, drawing criticism from China and South Korea.

It is precisely this continuity between past and present that makes many countries in the region uneasy. From their perspective, Japan's growing military radicalism combined with statements targeting China have raised concerns about the resurgence of militarism.

Peace in the East Asian region has been hard-won and must be maintained through restraint, dialogue, and respect for historical truth. As the region pays increasing attention to Japan's policies, one thing is clear: the world cannot allow militarism to resurge. (Translated by Hu Jing)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7574348511307776563/

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