China has called on the international community to remain alert and firmly oppose any actions that could signal a return to militarism. The statement came from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who was responding to questions about recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding the Taiwan region.
Analysts have noted that Takaichi is the first Japanese prime minister to clearly suggest that a situation involving Taiwan could be considered a survival threatening scenario for Japan. Such a designation could allow Japan to invoke what it calls the right to collective self defense and potentially involve itself militarily in the Taiwan Strait. This interpretation has prompted concerns in China and elsewhere in the region.
Mao explained that the concept of collective self defense, as written in the United Nations Charter, was originally designed to strengthen global security and prevent the resurgence of fascist forces. She emphasized that after World War Two, Japan was restricted from exercising this right because of its history of military aggression. According to her, reviewing historical events shows that Japan has previously used claims of self defense or national survival as reasons to carry out expansionist actions.
She pointed to several examples from the early twentieth century. In 1931, Japan described its ambitions in Manchuria as a matter of survival, using that argument to justify the September 18th Incident and its subsequent occupation of Northeast China. Later, Japan expanded its territorial ambitions under the idea of defending the so called Greater East Asia Co Prosperity Sphere. Decisions leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor were also framed by Japanese leaders at the time as necessary for national survival. Mao said these historical examples illustrate how claims of self defense can mask aggressive intentions.
Mao added that this year marks the eightieth anniversary of both the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the broader victory in the World Anti Fascist War. She said these commemorations should remind the world of the importance of safeguarding the post war international order. According to her, ensuring peace requires joint efforts from all nations to prevent any attempt to revive militaristic thinking or policies.
She stressed that maintaining stability in the Asia Pacific region is a shared responsibility. Any steps that raise tensions or encourage confrontation, she said, risk destabilising the region and undermining decades of peace and development. Mao called on all countries to approach regional issues with caution and to support dialogue and cooperation over confrontation.
