China and North Korea Compact Attack Japan with the Issue of "Neo-Militarism"

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China and North Korea have started using the same term to attack Japan, namely "neo-militarism". The term is used to accuse Tokyo of strengthening its military character.

According to a Kyodo News report, quoted on Thursday, June 18, the term began to appear in January. Beijing is allegedly building international support to pressure Japan amid the warming of relations between the two countries.

On January 11, Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Korean Workers' Party in North Korea, used the term "neo-militarism" in a commentary article. The article criticized Tokyo's plan to revise three important security documents, including the National Security Strategy.

Since then, Pyongyang has repeatedly used the term to attack Japan.

Two days before the Rodong Sinmun article was published, the People's Daily, the main media of the Chinese Communist Party, first published a commentary with the title: "Neo-Militarism Will Drag Japan to the Brink."

A number of experts on China affairs assessed that it was the first time that a comment with the pen name "Zhong Sheng" used the term "neo-militarism". The pen name is believed to reflect the views of the Chinese Communist Party elite.

The term neo-militarism refers to the accusation that a country is reviving an aggressive military approach. In this context, the accusation is directed at China and North Korea to Japan.

During his visit to Pyongyang earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed his opposition to attempts to "revive militarism". The statement was made at a reception held by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Xi's words are believed to be aimed at Japan.

Beijing has recently become increasingly critical of Japan's defense policy, which is driven by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The tension is related to Takaichi's statement in parliament regarding Taiwan last November.

Takaichi said a Chinese mainland attack on Taiwan could trigger a response by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to support the United States.

Taiwan is a democratic island that governs itself. However, China claims Taiwan as part of its territory.

In addition to North Korea, a number of countries close to China have also voiced their rejection of "militarism". They are Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia, and Myanmar. This attitude has emerged in a number of high-level meetings or official forums with China recently.

China also expressed similar criticism in a diplomatic policy white paper released on Wednesday. White papers are official government documents that explain the direction of certain policies.

In the document, China said "militarism has resurfaced" and become a "serious threat" to international security. The statement was seen as a veiled criticism of Japan's defense policy.

Kyodo News also reported that Japan had recently explained its position to Pakistan. This step was taken after a joint statement by Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the end of May said that both parties rejected "all attempts to revive fascism or militarism."

Japan denied the allegations.

In a speech at a regional security forum in Singapore in late May, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi denied China's claims that Japan's defense buildup was a form of "new militarism".

Koizumi said Japan's reputation as a peace-loving country, which was built since the end of World War II, would not collapse just because of the accusations he called wrong.

"There is a country that has a very large nuclear arsenal and strategic bombers. Japan does not have such weapons. However, Japan is labeled 'new militarism'. Isn't that strange?" said Koizumi, who seemed to be referring to China.