Beijing warns against Japan’s remilitarization — South China Morning Post
In Beijing, China, Chinese experts and participants in the Xiangshan Forum warned against what they described as Japan’s remilitarization. The discussion took place amid reports that Tokyo may raise its medium-term defence spending to 3–3.5% of gross domestic product, South China Morning Post writes.
Statements at the Xiangshan Forum
Zhou Rong, a senior research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, said that Japan’s decision to increase military spending is influenced, in his view, not only by the United States but also by the country’s domestic conservative forces. According to him, some of these forces are hostile towards China or regard it as a security threat.
Zheng Yongnian, dean of the School of Public Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, said that Japan risks becoming the “Israel of East Asia”, which, in his view, would be harmful to the region. Senior Colonel Xiao Tiefeng of the People’s Liberation Army of China also called Japan’s pursuit of remilitarization one of the factors limiting security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Japan’s defence spending
Bloomberg previously reported that Japan could increase its medium-term defence budget to 3–3.5% of GDP, to a level that other US allies seek to reach. At the same time, Japan’s Ministry of Defence on Tuesday denied that Japanese officials had told US representatives that Tokyo was prepared to substantially increase defence spending to reach 3.5% of GDP.
Japan says it has already reached its planned level of defence spending ahead of schedule — about 2% of GDP. The country is expanding its defence capabilities, purchasing long-range missiles, using drones and expanding defence partnerships with countries from Australia to the United Kingdom. By the end of the year, Tokyo also plans to revise three key security documents.
Jürg Lauber, vice-president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, called on states at the forum to de-escalate. He noted that military spending in the Asia-Pacific region is growing and has already reached record levels.
