Japan protests China comments on reviving militarismBloomberg and AFP, TOKYOTokyo has lodged a protest with China over remarks by Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) that “far-right forces” in Japan were seeking to revive militarism, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said yesterday. Photo: AFPAfter Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi on Saturday said that Wang’s comment “was not based on facts,” his ministry followed up with a social media post on Sunday reinforcing his view. In his response to Wang’s comments, Motegi denied that Japan had any militaristic intentions. Japan’s foreign ministry post also reiterated Japan’s position that the issue of Taiwan should not be resolved by force. China has introduced some curbs on exports to Japan and warned its citizens against traveling to its neighbor as part of its campaign to put pressure on Takaichi to retract her Taiwan remarks.

Source: Taipei Times February 16, 2026 17:23 UTC