China Responds to Japan's Defense Remarks: Word Games Cannot Conceal Its Military Expansion Actions

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated at the regular press conference on June 3, in response to remarks from Japan's Ministry of Defense, that Japan's explanation was evasive and sidestepped the main issues, and could not conceal its actual actions in advancing remilitarization. Mao Ning said that Japan, on the one hand, avoids the history of militarist aggression and expansion as well as its obligations under international law, while on the other hand it dresses up overseas troop deployments, the strengthening of offensive capabilities, and arms exports with terms such as "collective selfdefense," "developing counterstrike capabilities," and "equipment and technology cooperation," attempting to use conceptual rebranding to downplay outside concerns. She stressed that the relevant data and facts will not change because of a change in wording, and that the outside world should focus on Japan's actual actions rather than remain at the level of superficial statements.