Japan protests China comments on reviving 'militarism'

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China's Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Wang Yi. File

China's Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Wang Yi. File | Photo Credit: Reuters

Tokyo said it had lodged a "stern demarche" to China done diplomatic channels aft Beijing's apical diplomat Wang Yi accused "far-right forces" successful Japan of seeking to revive militarism.

Speaking astatine the Munich Security Conference successful Germany, Mr. Wang weighed successful connected Beijing's existent narration with Tokyo, which has been nether dense strain since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made comments astir Taiwan successful November.

Mr. Wang said that "Japanese radical should nary longer let themselves to beryllium manipulated oregon deceived by those far-right forces, oregon by those who question to revive militarism".

"All peace-loving countries should nonstop a wide informing to Japan: if it chooses to locomotion backmost connected this path, it volition lone beryllium heading toward self-destruction."

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the claims successful a station connected X Sunday (February 16, 2026) arsenic "factually incorrect and ungrounded".

"Japan's efforts to fortify its defence capabilities are successful effect to an progressively terrible information situation and are not directed against immoderate circumstantial 3rd country," the connection said.

It said determination were "countries successful the planetary assemblage that person been rapidly expanding their subject capabilities successful a non-transparent manner" but added that "Japan opposes specified moves and distances itself from them".

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi made his stance wide astatine different league of the conference, followed by a stern demarche against the Chinese broadside done diplomatic channels, the connection said.

Just weeks into her term, PM Takaichi said Japan would intervene militarily successful immoderate onslaught connected Taiwan. Beijing claims the self-ruled antiauthoritarian land arsenic portion of its territory and has threatened to usage unit to bring it nether its control.

PM Takaichi was seen arsenic a China hawk earlier becoming Japan's archetypal pistillate Prime Minister successful October. She said past week that nether her enactment Japan — which hosts immoderate 60,000 U.S. subject unit — would bolster its defences and "steadfastly protect" its territory.

Published - February 16, 2026 10:53 p.m. IST

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