China's defense ministry urges Japan to act prudently on military matters

BEIJING -- China's Ministry of National Defense on Friday urged Japan to honor its commitment to peaceful development and act prudently on military and security matters, following Japan's recent deployment of fighters in its Air Self-Defense Force base.

Jiang Bin, a ministry spokesperson, made the remarks at a press conference in response to a media query about the F-35B stealth fighters purchased by Japan from the United States. The fighters are believed to be later deployed on Japan's frigates, which, if confirmed, will be the first time for Japan to have ship-borne fighters after WWII.

Jiang warned that Japan has been going further down the dangerous path of military buildup in recent years, raising growing concerns within the international community about its return to the path of militarism.

He stressed that Japan should earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the larger international community through concrete actions that demonstrate its commitment to peace.