East China Sea Doctrine

Dangers posed by Japan's neo-militarism warrant vigilance: Defense Spokesperson

China Military Online (EN) 14 August 2026

Summary

MND spokesperson Senior Colonel Chen Xi, speaking on August 14 ahead of the 81st anniversary of Japan's WWII surrender, condemned Japan's planned record-high defense budget of approximately 8.9 trillion yen for FY2027 and its development of offensive capabilities, framing these as evidence that 'Japan's neo-militarism has laid bare its true ambition.' This is standard commemorative-date political messaging from the MND podium; its value is as a record of how the PLA's public affairs apparatus links Japan's current defense buildup to unresolved wartime historical grievances, not as evidence of a new policy line or changed military posture toward Japan.

Translation

BEIJING, Aug. 14 -- "Japan's neo-militarism has laid bare its true ambition, and we must stay vigilant against the dangers posed by it," said a Chinese defense spokesperson on Friday.

August 15, 2026, marks the 81st anniversary of Japan's announcement of unconditional surrender in World War II (WWII). Yet even now, Japan's right-wing forces keep distorting history and pushing for military expansion. Meanwhile, Japan's Defense Ministry is set to submit a record-high budget of around 8.9 trillion yen for fiscal year 2027.

In response to the above issues, Senior Colonel Chen Xi, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), said that, 81 years ago, struck hard by China and global anti-fascist forces, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. Before that, Japanese militarists had plunged the whole of Asia into an abyss of bloodshed and disaster.

He pointed out that Japan's atrocities, such as the Nanjing Massacre, the Bataan Death March, and the Death Railway between Thailand and Myanmar, inflicted untold sufferings on the peoples of Asian countries and beyond, and even on the Japanese people themselves.

However, after its defeat, Japan failed to truly draw lessons from history, said the spokesperson. It has long condoned its right-wing forces whitewashing and denying crimes of aggression, sought every possible means to break free from the pacifist Constitution and "exclusively defense-oriented" principle, and attempted to challenge the post-war international order. As a result, Japan has become detrimental to regional peace and stability.

Recently, under the pretext of addressing so-called external threats, the Japanese side has substantially increased its defense budget, rigorously developed offensive capabilities, and aggressively expanded its military industry, said the spokesperson. "Japan's neo-militarism has laid bare its true ambition, and we must stay vigilant against the dangers posed by it," noted the spokesperson.

The spokesperson then emphasized that historical facts must not be forgotten, and justice and peace must not be compromised. China urges the Japanese side to earnestly reflect on itself, recognize and atone for its crimes, adhere to the post-war international order, and stop its dangerous acts of remilitarization.

"Any return to the wrong path will bring a more crushing defeat and a more complete reckoning," stressed the spokesperson.

Original text

BEIJING, Aug. 14 -- "Japan's neo-militarism has laid bare its true ambition, and we must stay vigilant against the dangers posed by it," said a Chinese defense spokesperson on Friday. August 15, 2026, marks the 81st anniversary of Japan's announcement of unconditional surrender in World War II (WWII). Yet even now, Japan's right-wing forces keep distorting history and pushing for military expansion. Meanwhile, Japan's Defense Ministry is set to submit a record-high budget of around 8.9 trillion yen for fiscal year 2027. In response to the above issues, Senior Colonel Chen Xi, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), said that, 81 years ago, struck hard by China and global anti-fascist forces, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. Before that, Japanese militarists had plunged the whole Asia into an abyss of bloodshed and disaster. He pointed out that Japan’s atrocities, such as the Nanjing Massacre, the Bataan Death March, and the Death Railway between Thailand and Myanmar, inflicted untold sufferings on the peoples of Asian countries and beyond, and even on the Japanese people themselves. However, after its defeat, Japan failed to truly draw lessons from history, said the spokesperson. It has long condoned its right-wing forces whitewashing and denying crimes of aggression, sought every possible means to break free from the pacifist Constitution and "exclusively defense-oriented" principle, and attempted to challenge the post-war international order. As a result, Japan has become detrimental to regional peace and stability. Recently, under the pretext of addressing so-called external threats, the Japanese side has substantially increased its defense budget, rigorously developed offensive capabilities, and aggressively expanded its military industry, said the spokesperson. “Japan's neo-militarism has laid bare its true ambition, and we must stay vigilant against the dangers posed by it,” noted the spokesperson. The spokesperson then emphasized that historical facts must not be forgotten, and justice and peace must not be compromised. China urges the Japanese side to earnestly reflect on itself, recognize and atone for its crimes, adhere to the post-war international order, and stop its dangerous acts of remilitarization. "Any return to the wrong path will bring a more crushing defeat and a more complete reckoning," stressed the spokesperson.