China expresses concern after Japan eases arms export rules-

BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China expresses serious concern over Japanese government's revision of rules to allow overseas sales of weapons, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

Japanese militarists during their aggression and expansion last century committed horrendous crimes against China and other neighboring countries in Asia. Given the history of aggression and to prevent the revival of Japanese militarism, the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, the Japanese Instrument of Surrender and a series of documents with full legal effect under international law explicitly require Japan to be "completely disarmed" and not to maintain industries that "would enable her to re-arm for war," Guo said at a regular news briefing.

The Japanese Constitution also contains strict restrictions on Japan's military strength, right of belligerency and right to war. After WWII, Japan further established stringent norms such as the "exclusively defense-oriented principle" to limit the development of military strength and the export of weapons. In 1976, the Japanese government issued a unified view on arms exports demanding that Japan, "as a nation dedicated to peace," exercise caution on arms export.

Japan's recent dangerous moves in the military and security fields defy its self-proclaimed "dedication to peace" and adherence to the "exclusively defense-oriented" policy, Guo said, adding that many experts and scholars expressed concern that Japan is restarting its "war machine" and "exporting wars."

"Japan's quickened remilitarization is already a reality and comes with actual roadmap and steps being taken. The international community, including China, will remain highly vigilant and firmly resist Japan's reckless moves of neo-militarism," he said.