UNITED NATIONS – Japan, with its remilitarization drive, has become a prominent factor threatening regional peace and stability, a Chinese envoy told the General Debate of the UN General Assembly Disarmament and International Security Committee (First Committee) on Thursday.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trial. Japan was admitted to the United Nations on the premise that it would recognize the crimes of Japanese militarism and accept the UN Charter in its entirety. However, the current Japanese government denies Japan’s history of aggression, glorifies war crimes, and worships war criminals of World War II.
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Meanwhile, it has continuously stepped up military build-up and accelerated remilitarization, attempted to abandon the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, and has thus become a prominent factor threatening regional peace and stability, said Sun Xiaobo, head of the Chinese delegation to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly First Committee.
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“Current Japanese high-ranking officials have openly made reckless remarks about discussing the possession of nuclear weapons without any taboos, which is serious provocation of and trampling on the international nuclear non-proliferation regime,” said Sun, who is director general of the Arms Control Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
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Japan’s proposal to delete the “enemy state clause” from the UN Charter is the latest example of its challenge to the post-war international order under the guise of normal country status, he said.
The international community should seriously reflect on any act that condones or even supports the remilitarization of Japan, urge Japan to profoundly reflect on its history of aggression, make a clean break with militarism, completely abandon its plans for remilitarization, and genuinely fulfill its non-proliferation obligations under international law, said Sun.
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