【By Observer News, Xiong Chaoran】Under the incitement of far-right forces, Japanese militarism is showing signs of resurgence and even speaking boldly on the international stage.

According to Japan's English media, The Japan Times, on February 14, it reported that on February 13, Japanese Defense Minister Shigeyasu Kono delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference, once again promoting the so-called "rules-based global order," linking the security of the Indo-Pacific region with the Europe-Atlantic region.

"The foundations supporting the international order are being tested by real-world actions. Any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through force cannot be tolerated. That is why Japan does not see the Ukraine issue as just a distant European problem," he declared.

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Japan has been trying to link Asia and Europe's security issues, repeatedly promoting the sensationalist claim of "Today's Ukraine, Tomorrow's East Asia," implying that similar regional conflicts could occur in the Indo-Pacific region, especially in the Taiwan Strait.

The Japan Times noted that Japan is currently closely monitoring China's military activities in Asia. Although Kono did not directly mention China in his speech, he clearly targeted China, deliberately exaggerating the claim that the security situation is deteriorating in regions where China's military activities are becoming increasingly frequent.

"Countries closely related to Japan continue to conduct opaque military buildups, and the regional military balance is undergoing significant and rapid changes," he claimed, adding: "Attempts to change the status quo through force persist in the East China Sea and South China Sea. Provocative military activities are intensifying in the Western and Southern Pacific."

Previously, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning pointed out that in recent years, Japan's right-wing forces have accelerated their efforts to expand military capabilities, breaking step by step the post-war rules such as the "exclusive defense" principle and international regulations, challenging the post-war international order. The historical lessons are very profound. The right-wing forces in Japan pushing for re-militarization have already posed a threat to regional and world peace and tranquility. China and all countries and people who love peace in the world will not allow Japan's right-wing forces to turn back history, nor will they allow militarism to revive.

On February 13, Shigeyasu Kono delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference. The Japan Times

On November 7 last year, Japanese Prime Minister Asahi Takahashi made erroneous remarks on Taiwan, seriously undermining Sino-Japanese relations.

China has repeatedly urged Japan to withdraw its erroneous statements on Taiwan, but Japan has yet to do so. Since then, due to issues such as public security and product quality safety, China has issued travel and study warnings for Japan, and suspended imports of Japanese seafood products, which some Japanese media have regarded as countermeasures.

On January 6 this year, after China announced stricter controls on exports of dual-use products to Japan, Japan was extremely anxious.

The Japan Times mentioned that Takahashi insisted that the government's position is consistent with that of previous Japanese governments, and tried to ease the impact of the erroneous statements on Taiwan, claiming that "the door for communication remains open."

According to reports, during the question-and-answer session following his speech at the Munich Security Conference on February 13, Kono did not make any effective statements to mend Sino-Japanese relations, but repeated the so-called "position" of the Takahashi administration again.

He stated: "Although we have differences and disputes, Japan's position is clear, and we are always willing to hold dialogues. Therefore, regardless of the differences, we will not close any channels of communication. I would like to convey to China that we are always welcome to dialogue."

The report said that this was Kono's first participation in such an event, and during the conference, he held a series of bilateral meetings with officials from countries including Canada and New Zealand. Japan is seeking to establish a diversified defense relationship with so-called "like-minded countries" outside the United States, including strengthening Japan's defense industry base.

Kono also held talks with the defense ministers of the UK and Italy, two partners in Japan's joint development of next-generation fighter aircraft projects. The three defense ministers agreed to further cooperate on the agreement.

This Japanese defense minister also claimed that the Takahashi administration plans to revise three key security documents by the end of this year to "fundamentally strengthen defense capabilities," which may mean increasing defense spending. In addition, the Takahashi administration also intends to relax strict regulations and expand the scope of defense equipment transfers.

According to NHK on February 15, during his time in Munich, Kono boasted to journalists about wanting to form alliances: "Through participating in this meeting, I effectively conveyed Japan's defense policy and once again shared the consensus that the security of the Europe-Atlantic region and the 'Indo-Pacific region' are inseparable. This is a great achievement. I was also able to exchange opinions honestly with defense ministers and other individuals from various countries, build mutual trust, and strengthen our strong unity."

He added: "After obtaining the authority of the election, I realized that everyone was paying attention to how Japan would specifically strengthen its security policy. I once again felt the heavy responsibility to demonstrate the evolution of Japan's policies through concrete implementation both domestically and internationally."

Other than the Japanese Defense Minister, the Japanese Foreign Minister, Masaru Motoshige, also attended this Munich Security Conference. He also echoed Kono's rhetoric, stating: "The participation of the Foreign Minister and the Defense Minister in this conference is significant, as it conveys our efforts to maintain and strengthen the 'free and open international order based on the rule of law,' as well as the importance of cooperation with like-minded countries."

Motoshige claimed "willingness to dialogue with China," but turned around and insisted: "Japan has consistently followed the 'peaceful path' since the post-war period and is willing to continue contributing to the peace and stability of the international community. The Chinese statements have no factual basis and are completely inconsistent with the facts."

NHK said that his remarks were a response to the speech by China's top-level foreign official Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference. Observer News noted that the video from the scene showed that the Chinese statement received enthusiastic applause at the Munich Security Conference.

On February 14, local time, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the Munich Security Conference, delivered a speech at the "China Special Session," and answered questions from the audience.

Wang Yi mentioned that Asia is also not smooth sailing, and one must be vigilant against Japan's dangerous tendencies, which include the recent public remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Asahi Takahashi that "Taiwan's affairs" might constitute a "critical situation" for Japan to exercise collective self-defense.

"This is the first time since the 1980s that Japan has openly spoken this way, directly challenging China's sovereignty, directly challenging the post-WWII order that Taiwan has been returned to China, and directly abandoning all commitments made to China. We certainly cannot agree, and 1.4 billion Chinese people cannot accept it," Wang Yi said.

Wang Yi said: "We are now in Germany, in Europe. I may as well compare Japan and Germany. After World War II, Germany comprehensively reckoned with Nazism and legislated to prohibit the promotion of Nazi ideas, but Japan is completely different. Class A war criminals are still enshrined in shrines, and Japanese political figures keep visiting them, treating them as deities. What does this indicate? It indicates that Japan's ambition to colonize and invade Taiwan has not disappeared, and that the specter of Japanese militarism still lingers. The past is not far, and we must be vigilant."

"In the past, Japan used the same excuse, the so-called 'critical situation,' to launch an invasion against China and attack Pearl Harbor. If it does not repent, it will inevitably repeat its mistakes, which is a historical pattern. Therefore, the kind-hearted people indeed need to be alert. First, the Japanese people should no longer be swept up or misled by extreme right-wing forces, even those seeking to revive militarism. All countries that love peace should issue warnings to Japan: if you want to take a retrogressive path, you can only bring about your own destruction; if you want to gamble again, you will lose more quickly and suffer greater defeat," Wang Yi said.

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7607004275349013043/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.