Spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, Tan Kefei, answered questions from reporters regarding the Japanese government's adoption of the 2023 version of the Defense White Paper. Military | China | Spokesperson
Tan Kefei: The new version of the Japanese Defense White Paper firmly opposes the erroneous understanding of China, deliberately portrays the so-called "Chinese military threat", smears and hypes up the normal construction, development, and military activities of the Chinese military, rudely interferes in China's internal affairs, and stirs up regional tensions. We have firmly opposed this and have made solemn representations to the Japanese side.
The Chinese military has always been a steadfast force in maintaining world peace and stability, never challenging anyone, let alone threatening anyone. On the contrary, in recent years, Japan has continuously broken through the constraints of the "Peace Constitution" and the principle of "dedicated defense", significantly increased defense spending, advocated the development of so-called "counterattack capabilities", and went further and further on the path of military expansion, following individual major powers to form targeted "small circles", posing serious challenges to regional and world peace, security, and stability.
China is a staunch defender and builder of the international maritime rule of law, with a consistent and clear stance on maritime issues. Currently, the overall situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea remains stable. Individual countries, for their own selfish interests, frequently dispatch ships and aircraft to relevant waters to show off their military strength, seriously exacerbating regional tensions. The cooperation between China and Russia in the field of defense is based on non alignment, non confrontation, and non targeting of third parties, committed to maintaining regional and world peace and stability, and not posing a threat to any country.
![Spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, Tan Kefei, answered questions from reporters regarding the Japanese government's adoption of the 2023 version of the Defense White Paper. Military | China | Spokesperson](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/ea6fad40f89cdad44a959b3f625be41d.jpg)
Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and the One China principle is related to the political foundation of Sino Japanese relations and is an insurmountable bottom line.
We urge the Japanese side to deeply learn from historical lessons, stop irresponsible words and actions, abandon zero sum confrontation thinking based on neighbors, establish a correct understanding of China, keep promises on major issues such as Taiwan, be cautious in military security, and take practical actions to push bilateral relations back to the right track.