Beijing, 15 September (H.S.): China has strongly opposed ongoing joint military exercises involving Japan, the United States and Australia, as well as Japan’s deployment of long-range strategic strike weapons. Beijing has warned that such moves could intensify the regional arms race and increase the risk of military confrontation.

According to Türkiye’s state-run Anadolu Agency and China’s English-language daily China Daily, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said on Monday that Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force is conducting the “Orient Shield 26” military exercise alongside US and Australian forces. The exercise is being held from September 8 to 24 in Japan’s Hokkaido and Kagoshima regions.

According to reports, the exercise is also featuring the United States’ Typhon mid-range missile system for the first time. China has said that such a deployment is heightening security concerns among countries in the region.

Jiang Bin alleged that the exercise was being used under the pretext of a “security umbrella” to advance the deployment of long-range strike weapons. He said such actions undermine the legitimate security interests of other countries and pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability. “We firmly oppose this,” he said.

Russia has also objected to the military exercise. On August 31, Moscow lodged a protest with the Japanese Embassy in Russia over the planned exercise in Japan.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on September 1 that the deployment of such weapons on Japanese territory, even under the guise of a military exercise, would pose a threat to Russia’s security. She described the move as “completely unacceptable” to Moscow and said Russia would take countermeasures to safeguard its national defence and security.

China has long opposed the deployment of US mid-range missile systems in Asian countries. In May, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing strongly opposed the deployment of the Typhon missile system.

Guo described Typhon as a strategic strike weapon, saying its deployment could undermine regional strategic security and increase the risk of military confrontation and an arms race.

Jiang Bin accused Japan of developing long-range strike weapons and expanding its military activities overseas. He said such actions run counter to the principles of Japan’s pacifist Constitution and its defence-oriented security policy.

He described Japan’s military expansion as a step towards “a new form of militarism” and warned that it could further intensify regional tensions and confrontation between blocs.

Jiang said, “Any move that fuels Japan’s military ambitions could push the region into a dangerous vortex and ultimately harm Japan itself.”

China has called on Japan, the United States and Australia to respect the security concerns of other countries, correct their policies and take concrete steps to safeguard regional peace and stability.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar