Chinese military scholar says Japan not qualified to discuss defense cooperation

A Chinese military scholar on Saturday questioned Japan's qualification to speak about defense cooperation, warning against any resurgence of militarism and attempts to challenge the post-World War II international order.

Major General Meng Xiangqing, head of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) expert delegation and a professor from the PLA National Defense University, made the remarks during a session of the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue.

Meng noted that 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, also known as the Tokyo Trials.

He said the tribunal's verdict permanently condemned the crimes committed by Japanese militarism and laid an important legal foundation for the post-war international order.

Yet today, some forces are openly glorifying war crimes, promoting distorted views of World War II history, attempting to challenge the conclusions of the Tokyo Trials and whitewash the history of aggression, Meng said.

He added that these forces have even taken concrete steps to break through constraints imposed by the post-war peace framework.

"Is a country that has not thoroughly reckoned with the legacy of militarism qualified to speak loudly about defense cooperation on the international stage? Can it win the trust of the international community, especially Asian countries that once suffered from its aggression? I have serious doubts," he said.

Meng called on the international community to remain vigilant against any revival of militarist thinking and to safeguard the outcomes of World War II and the post-war international order.

The 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue opened in Singapore on Friday evening, bringing together more than 550 policymakers, defense officials and experts from over 40 countries and regions. The PLA expert delegation was invited to participate in the event, which runs through May 31.