China warns Japan against military deployment

Iran Press TV

Thu Jul 16, 2015 3:44PM

China has warned Japan over the consequences of bills passed by its lower house, allowing combat troops' deployment abroad for the first time since World War II.

Calling on Tokyo not to jeopardize China's sovereignty and security, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying further stated on Thursday that Beijing solemnly urges Tokyo to avoid "crippling regional peace and security" in East Asia.

'It is fully justified to ask if Japan is going to give up its exclusively defense-oriented policy,' Hua added in a statement.

She further described the legislative measure as 'an unprecedented move since the Second World War.'

The development comes as Japanese National Security Adviser Shotaro Yachi is currently in Beijing to hold talks with Chinese authorities.

Japan's lower house of parliament approved the bills despite growing public and political opposition. The bills have yet to be voted on by the country's upper house.

Thousands of Japanese people staged a mass rally outside the parliament building on Wednesday to protest the controversial measures.

Japanese forces launched a full-fledged occupation of China in 1937 and the wartime history between the two powers still plays a major role in their relations.

Beijing - which is also involved in a territorial conflict with Tokyo over disputed islands in the East China Sea - often accuses the government of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of demonstrating inadequate contrition over the conflict.