Japan hypes "China threat" as excuse for new security bills: DM spokesperson

Some Japanese politicians have repeatedly played up the "China threat" to help create an excuse for passing controversial new security bills, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun said Thursday in a press briefing.

Japan released photos of China's oil and drilling platforms in the East China Sea and demanded China halt construction on July 22.

Some Japanese officials also publicly warned that China may use some of its oil and gas drilling platforms for military purposes, according to media reports.

Referring to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Yang said China's oil and gas development is within undisputed waters under China's jurisdiction and is entirely justified and legitimate.

"Japan's recent and frequent finger-pointing is to create and play up the 'China Threat,' so as to find excuses for passing controversial security bills," Yang said.

The upper house of Japan's Diet started deliberations Monday on the security bills, which aim to pave the "legal ground" for Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to exercise constitutionally banned rights to collective self-defense.

Yang referred to Japan's "China threat" tactics for passing the security bills as "creating a distorted image and deliberately disturbing the audience's opinion."

This year marks the 70th anniversary of victory in the world's anti-fascist war.

"In this special year, the changes Japan will make to its military and security policies, how far it will go down the road to becoming a military power, and will it embark on the old path of militarism -- all these questions remain important concerns for Japan's neighboring countries as well as the international community," Yang said. Endi