Media: China criticises Japan defence minister over call for nuclear policy debate

China on Tuesday (July 21) criticised Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi after he called for Japan to debate its nuclear weapons policy "without taboo", saying the remarks were "extremely provocative and dangerous" and threatened the postwar international order,  Bloomberg reports.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the comments at a regular press briefing in response to Koizumi's remarks on Genron TV last week.

"This is extremely provocative and dangerous," Lin said, adding the comments showed Japan's leaders were "attempting to breach the three non-nuclear principles and challenge the postwar international order."

Koizumi said on Friday: "For Japan, it’s a difficult issue to discuss, but one we cannot avoid touching on is nuclear." He added that Japan "must debate and advance all policies without taboo."

Japan has long adhered to its three non-nuclear principles of not possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons. Some politicians have argued for reconsidering the third principle, which could allow the United States to deploy nuclear weapons in Japan.

Lin said Koizumi's remarks contradicted Japan's public commitments.

"However, back in Japan, he is clamoring for discussing the nuclear-weapon policy without any taboos," he said.

China has repeatedly accused Japan under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of pursuing remilitarisation through closer security cooperation with allies, nuclear-powered submarines, greater nuclear sharing and medium-range missile deployments.

"Japanese right-wing forces, citing so called external threats and self defense, have been breaking free from Japan’s constitution, international law and domestic law, and challenging the postwar international order and the international nuclear nonproliferation regime — speeding down a dangerous path," Lin said.

"Japan’s new militarism has already reared its head," he said. "The international community must be highly vigilant and firmly oppose it."

By Aghakazim Guliyev