Beijing expressed strong shock and concern on recent remarks by senior officials from Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office suggesting that Japan should possess nuclear weapons, following growing debate within Japan over revisiting its long-standing non-nuclear principles.
Responding to a question from Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China was alarmed that a senior Japanese official close to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi openly claimed Japan should have nuclear weapons. Lin noted that Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary declined to clarify the remarks, while Japan’s Defense Minister stated that “all options would be discussed” when asked about revising the three non-nuclear principles.
According to Lin, these statements, combined with Japanese media reports that the Takaichi administration plans to revise the non-nuclear principles, constitute a blatant challenge to the postwar international order and the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. China warned that such remarks pose a serious threat to regional and global peace and represent a sharp departure from Japan’s long-standing commitment to peaceful development. Lin added that labeling the comments as “personal views” was unconvincing and called on the international community to remain highly vigilant and firmly oppose such tendencies.
Lin stressed that the remarks seriously violate Japan’s obligations under international law. He cited legally binding documents including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, all of which require Japan to be completely disarmed and prohibit it from maintaining industries that enable rearmament for war. As a non-nuclear-weapon state under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Japan is obligated not to receive, manufacture, acquire, or transfer nuclear weapons. These obligations, Lin said, are non-negotiable and must not be used as political bargaining tools.
China also warned that any attempt by Japan to pursue nuclear weapons would severely undermine peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Lin emphasized that the international nuclear non-proliferation regime is a cornerstone of the postwar international order, and that Japan’s actions would weaken the authority and effectiveness of the global framework designed to prevent nuclear proliferation. He noted that Japan’s remarks have already drawn strong opposition domestically and internationally, including criticism from senior figures within Japan’s ruling and opposition parties, as well as civil groups, who insist that the three non-nuclear principles must be strictly upheld.
Addressing broader concerns, Lin said the remilitarization ambitions of Japanese right-wing forces are increasingly apparent. He pointed out that former Japanese political leaders have previously claimed that Japan has the capability to manufacture nuclear weapons, and that Japan possesses plutonium stockpiles far exceeding civilian nuclear energy requirements. As a non-nuclear-weapon state with the technical capacity to produce weapon-grade plutonium, Japan’s continued actions, Lin warned, risk crossing the bottom line of the international community. China’s response to such developments, he said, would be a firm refusal.
Lin further linked the nuclear debate to Japan’s recent security posture under the Takaichi administration, accusing it of exaggerating security threats, blurring policy boundaries, and ignoring domestic and international criticism. He questioned the direction in which the current Japanese government is leading the country and warned that these developments help explain Japan’s earlier controversial remarks on Taiwan.
Marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Lin recalled the historical atrocities committed by Japanese militarists during World War II. He said that although Japan was defeated, some forces within the country have failed to fully reflect on its wartime aggression and remain dissatisfied with the postwar international arrangement.
China warned that allowing Japanese right-wing forces to develop advanced offensive weapons, or even acquire nuclear weapons, would risk bringing disaster to the world once again. Lin said China and other peace-loving countries remain on high alert and firmly oppose Japan’s dangerous nuclear rhetoric. He urged Japan to strictly abide by international law and its pacifist constitution, halt provocative actions toward nuclear armament, and refrain from challenging the postwar international order.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on official statements and publicly available information. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not represent the views or positions of the publisher.
