China warns Japan over long-range missile deployment

China has expressed serious concern over Japan’s deployment of long-range missiles at two Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) bases in Kumamoto and Shizuoka prefectures, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Spokesperson Mao Ning said the missiles, equipped with counterstrike capabilities, mark the first time such weaponry has been brought into service at these bases, Xinhua reports.

“Japan, under the pretext of defense and counter-strike, is deploying offensive weapons, going far beyond the scope of ‘self-defense’ and its exclusively defense-oriented policy,” Mao told a regular press briefing. She added that Japanese “new militarism” threatens regional peace and stability, warning that the international community should remain highly vigilant.

Mao also stressed that Japan’s actions violate international law instruments, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, as well as Japan’s own constitution and domestic regulations. “This once again reflects that Japan's right-wing forces are driving the country's security policy toward an offensive and expansionist direction,” she said.

Noting domestic opposition, Mao added, “I have also noticed that many Japanese groups and individuals have voiced opposition publicly.”

Highlighting recent security concerns, Mao recalled that an officer of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces illegally entered the Chinese embassy in Japan with a knife. “Instead of reflecting on the SDF's mismanagement and loss of control, Japan continues to focus on fomenting external threats and accelerating military buildup. This trend is highly perilous,” she said.

The spokesperson concluded with a stern appeal: “We urge Japan to deeply reflect on its history of militarist aggression, honor its commitments in the military and security domains, and act with prudence.”

On March 31, Japan’s Ministry of Defence disclosed the deployment of enhanced anti-ship missiles with an approximate range of 1,000 kilometres. The ministry underscored that these missiles, possessing “the capability to target enemy bases,” are essential for long-range defence in what it described as the most complex security environment since World War II.

By Vafa Guliyeva