China, Russia Must Prevent Japan’s Rearmament, Says Foreign Minister Wang Yi

BEIJING, Jul 25: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that China and Russia must strengthen their strategic coordination to safeguard the outcome of World War II and prevent Japan from rearming. According to a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Saturday, Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Kyrgyzstan on Friday. “China and Russia must strengthen strategic coordination, defend the results of victory in World War II, and under no circumstances allow Japan’s rearmament,” Wang was quoted as saying. China has repeatedly expressed concern over what it describes as Japan’s accelerating remilitarisation, alleging that Tokyo is expanding its military capabilities by deploying offensive weapons and developing long-range missile systems beyond its territory. Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have remained strained since remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November 2025, when she said that a conflict involving Taiwan and the use of military force could constitute an existential crisis for Japan. According to the report, the comments contributed to a deterioration in bilateral ties, leading to the cancellation of flights between the two countries, a decline in tourism and the imposition of Chinese restrictions on the export of certain dual-use goods to Japan.