China accuses Japan of rising nuke ambitions under its right-leaning govt

It claims there's a 'resurgence of Japanese militarism' that poses threat to world peace

- Michelle Ng

China has charged that Japan's expanding nuclear ambitions under its right-leaning Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are threatening world peace and stability, amid a deepening diplomatic standoff between the neighbours.

Beijing has in recent days rolled out export bans and a trade probe, tightening pressure on Tokyo's economic and security interests.

On Jan 8, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing that the new Japanese government "has not hesitated to reveal" the nuclear ambitions of Japan's right-wing forces.

This, she noted, is a dangerous signal of the resurgence of Japanese militarism and poses a serious threat to world peace and stability.

She urged Japan to heed the call of the international community for justice, clarify its position on the issue of nuclear weapons and abide by its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and its three nonnuclear principles.

The NPT is a global treaty aimed at curbing the proliferation of nuclear arms, and Japan's three nonnuclear principles adopted in the postwar era commit it to not possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of such weapons.

Ms Mao's comments followed the release of a new research report by two Chinese think-tanks on Dec 8, calling for heightened international vigilance over what it outlined as Japan's rising right-wing nuclear ambitions.

Ms Mao also said that senior Japanese officials, including Ms Takaichi, had sought the revision of the country's three nonnuclear principles, implied the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines, and called for boosting of the "extended deterrence" that Japan receives from its ally the US and openly claimed that Japan should possess nuclear weapons.