Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made two separate calls on Wednesday. First, he commented on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s planned proposal of a new free and open Indo-Pacific vision. Lin stated that state to state interactions should not target or harm third party interests. Under the pretext of freedom and openness, Japan is essentially stoking bloc confrontation. It is also forming exclusive cliques in the region. These practices run counter to shared aspirations for peace, development, and cooperation.
Lin also addressed Japan’s long delayed destruction of chemical weapons abandoned in China. Japan originally needed to complete this task by 2007. However, the process has faced repeated delays. Wednesday marked the 29th anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention’s entry into force. The OPCW Director General has stated that destroying old chemical weapons is indispensable for a world free of chemical weapons.
The chemical weapons abandoned by Japan in China remain a grave crime from Japanese militarism’s war of aggression. To this day, these weapons continue endangering Chinese people’s lives and property. They also threaten ecological safety across affected areas. The complete destruction of these weapons is an international obligation that Japan must fulfill. Lin emphasized that eliminating this toxic legacy is a responsibility Japan cannot shirk.
China once again calls on Japan to face its historical and practical responsibilities squarely. Tokyo must fulfill its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention. It should provide further information on burial sites across Chinese territory. Japan must increase input and accelerate the disposal process significantly. This would return clean land to the Chinese people. It would also remove the biggest practical obstacle to achieving a world free of chemical weapons. The international community continues watching Japan’s next moves closely. Failure to comply will further damage Japan’s standing in regional affairs.
