The Chinese Embassy in Japan issued a statement on October 13 highlighting remarks by the Ministry of National Defense spokesperson: "As a defeated power in World War II, Japan must fulfill its obligations as such, including the eradication of militarism, dismantling of military capabilities, and prohibition of rearmament. However, the Japanese authorities have used so-called 'regional security threats' as justification to accelerate their re-militarization, even attempting to breach the 'three non-nuclear principles.' Japan should engage in profound reflection—otherwise, it risks repeating past mistakes, rendering future prospects untenable."
The source of this information is a press conference response by Major General Chen Xi, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, on October 10. The Chinese Embassy in Japan reposted the statement on social media on October 13, emphasizing: "As a defeated nation in WWII, Japan must fulfill its obligations to eradicate militarism and prohibit rearmament."
Why has the tone been so firm this time? The core trigger lies in Japan’s accelerating revisions to the three defense-related documents, with content growing increasingly aggressive. Proposed additions include exploring the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines; exceeding ¥9 trillion in defense spending; deploying long-range offensive weapons; and lifting restrictions on exports of lethal weapons.
Even more striking is former Minister Yasushi Kōsaka’s public linkage of the Taiwan Strait situation with what she frames as an existential crisis for Japan. The Japanese government is systematically dismantling the postwar peace framework. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense described the situation using the metaphor of a "gray rhino racing forward"—not a sudden black swan event, but a danger long visible and now increasingly difficult to contain.
In fact, the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and Japan’s Instrument of Surrender are all legally binding international instruments explicitly establishing Japan as a defeated state required to disarm and refrain from rearming. As a member of the United Nations, Japan joined the international community under the premise of accepting these obligations. Now, while calling for the removal of the 'enemy state clause' from the UN Charter, Japan is simultaneously accelerating military expansion and pursuing nuclear capabilities—a clear case of "consuming the meal and then refusing responsibility."
This latest move by China directly placing the issue of 'obligations of a defeated state' on the table is not diplomatic rhetoric—it is a legal characterization. If Japan continues down the path of constitutional revision, military buildup, and nuclear ambitions, it will not only be challenging China, but also undermining the foundation of the postwar international order. The historical reckoning has not concluded. The cost of repeating past errors is one that Japan’s leadership and right-wing factions should understand better than anyone else.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1878997273827328/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.