Japan “faces the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II,” Tokyo says.

A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman, Tan Kefei, has lamented Japan's “wrong approach and perception” towards China in which it “deliberately exaggerates” the Chinese military threat without regard to its “self-defense”.. It also involves “interference” in Chinese internal affairs, according to the Chinese news portal Global Times.

Tan stressed that China “has always been a force for maintaining world peace and stability without ever challenging or threatening anyone.”

In contrast, Japan in recent years has “repeatedly breached the limits of its 'peace constitution' and the principle of exclusively defense-oriented policy” by increasing military spending and developing counter-attack capabilities.. In particular, he reproaches Japan for its alignment with “certain great powers”, in reference to the United States.

For this reason, it has called on Japan to abandon its zero-sum, confrontational position and promote understanding of China.. “It is essential to respect commitments on important issues such as Taiwan and exercise prudence in the field of security and defense,” he argued.