Japan not qualified to be permanent member of UN Security Council: FM spokeswoman

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday that Japan is incapable of shouldering the responsibility of safeguarding international peace and security and is not qualified to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

As the 80th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday reviewed the issue of Security Council reform, China emphasized that Japan is not qualified to seek permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

Mao told a daily news briefing that under the UN Charter, the Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining global peace and security. She noted that Japan launched aggressive wars during World War II, causing immense suffering across Asia and the world.

"Even today, Japan has not fully reflected on its wartime responsibilities," Mao said, adding that some in Japan continue to promote a distorted view of World War II, pay tribute to the Yasukuni Shrine, and distort, deny or even glorify the history of aggression.

Mao also pointed out that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently made erroneous remarks on Taiwan, openly interfering in China's internal affairs, trampling on international law and basic norms governing international relations, and challenging the post-war international order.