During a briefing on April 9, Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang condemned Japan's deployment of long-range missiles with "enemy base strike capabilities," saying it exposes Tokyo's ambition for military expansion and marks a dangerous acceleration of remilitarization. He warned that Japan's "neo-militarism" threatens regional stability, urging the international community to stay vigilant, while also stressing that China's military is fully capable of countering any provocation and making aggressors pay an unbearable price.