China has expressed serious concern over Japan’s accelerated space militarization, following the passage of an amendment to the Ministry of Defense Establishment Act by Japan’s House of Councilors. The amendment renames the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to the Japan Aerospace Self-Defense Force and establishes a Space Operations Wing. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Chen Xi warned on Thursday that the moves are a dangerous step toward neo-militarism that threatens global space security.
CHEN XI, Spokesperson, Chinese Defense Ministry “In recent years, Japan has openly included space as an operational domain and revealed its ambition of space military build-up. Over the past five years, its military spending in relevant areas has increased tenfold, and its operational forces have expanded more than 30-fold.
These moves have accelerated the weaponization and militarization of space and fueled a space arms race. It is further proof that neo-militarism in Japan has become a real threat.
The lasting peace and security of space bear on the security, development and prosperity of countries around the world. All peace-loving people should be on high alert against the dangerous moves of the Japanese side in space and resolutely contain accelerated remilitarization pushed by right-wing forces in Japan, to safeguard the common home for humanity.”
