Yomiuri Shimbun: Japan’s latest defense white paper identifies China as “its greatest strategic challenge” while presenting defence investment as beneficial to Japan’s economy and society. Given China’s intensifying activities in the region surrounding Japan, the white paper states that Japan should respond with its comprehensive national power and in cooperation and collaboration with its ally, like-minded countries and others. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment? What is China’s assessment of the implications of Japan’s accelerated military buildup? And does China see this as a sign that Japan is normalizing military expansion? (Similar questions from Reuters and Kyodo News)

Lin Jian: The Defense of Japan 2026 white paper once again targeted China with groundless accusations, rehashing the so-called “China threat” and grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs with brazen comments on China’s Taiwan region. We deplore and firmly reject this, and have lodged serious representations with Japan. China is committed to peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. The military activities that were conducted are just and valid. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affair. How to resolve it is a matter for the Chinese ourselves and Japan is in no place to interfere. Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have been China’s territory since ancient times. This fact will never change no matter what the Japanese side says or does.

Japanese militarists once inflicted immense suffering on Asia and the world, and committed untold crimes. Yet Japan has not only failed to reflect on that history, but also kept speeding up remilitarization, breaching Japan’s own Constitution and the international and domestic laws, and challenging the post-war international order. This has become a serious factor threatening regional peace and stability. The latest white paper continues to trumpet the development of long-range offensive capabilities and new ways of warfare, and even packages Japan’s rearmament as a growth driver. All these once again exposed the truth behind Japan’s claim of being a “peaceful nation”. The international community must stay on high alert and push it back. We urge Japan to deeply repent for historical crimes, learn the lesson of history, stop cooking up justification for its military buildup, and step back from the wrong path.

Reuters: The U.S. is reportedly drafting a ban on imports of new Chinese optical transceivers, and is also preparing price floors and tariffs on polysilicon and related products. Given the earlier U.S. sanctions and restrictions on Huawei, how does China assess these planned U.S. actions? What specific measures would China take to protect the rights and interests of its companies? (Similar question from BBC)

Lin Jian: China firmly opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security, and abusing state power to go after Chinese businesses. Protectionism will not make the U.S. more competitive. The U.S. move seriously disrupts normal trade and economic exchanges between Chinese and U.S. businesses, and is not in the interest of U.S. businesses and consumers or anyone else for that matter. China will continue firmly protecting our businesses’ legitimate and lawful rights and interests.