China on Wednesday expressed concern over Japan’s reported deployment of a missile unit on Yonaguni Island, warning that Tokyo is turning areas adjacent to China into “forward fortresses” for military confrontation.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks after Japanese media reported that Yonaguni Mayor Tsuneo Uechi met with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Monday to convey the town’s acceptance of the planned deployment on the island.
Speaking at a regular news briefing in Beijing, Guo said that under the pretexts of “self-defense” and “counterstrike”, Japan is strengthening the deployment of offensive weapons and equipment, including missiles, in nearby areas, posing a threat to regional peace and stability.
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Guo said Japan’s defense policy, driven by far-right forces, is shifting in a more offensive, expansionist and dangerous direction, far beyond the scope of self-defense and its exclusively defense-oriented policy.
Urging Japan to reflect on its history of militarist aggression and act prudently in the field of military security, Guo said the international community must remain highly vigilant against Japan’s accelerated militarization and the rampant spread of neo-militarism.