China slams Japan's first post-WWII offensive missile launch overseas

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday that Japan's right-wing forces are pushing for the acceleration of remilitarization, adding Japan's neo-militarism is rising and posing threat to regional peace and stability.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily press briefing, in response to a query about reports saying that Japan recently fired Type 88 missiles in the joint military exercise "Balikatan" between the US and the Philippines, the first time Japan launched offensive missiles overseas since World War II.

Lin stated that Japan bears severe historical guilt for its aggression and colonial rule over Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines. In the special year marking the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trial, the former aggressor has failed to deeply reflect on its historical crimes. Instead, it has dispatched military forces overseas and launched offensive missiles under the pretext of so-called "security cooperation."

"This trend once again shows that Japan's right-wing forces are pushing the country to accelerate its remilitarization process, constantly breaking through the constraints of its 'exclusively defense-oriented policy' as well as relevant international and domestic laws. Some of its policies and actions have gone far beyond the scope of self-defense," Lin said.

Lin pointed out that with a serious failure in its historical education, a fundamentally false perception of its history, coupled with its strategic agenda of military buildup and war preparedness, Japan's neo-militarism has taken shape and become a real menace, threatening regional peace and stability.

"We urge the Japanese side to deeply reflect on its militarist history of aggression, abide by its commitments, and act and speak with prudence in the military and security field," Lin concluded.

(With input from Xinhua)