Published on: 2026-04-30
Source: The People’s Republic of China in the Russian language –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Beijing, April 30 /Xin Hua/ — Japan’s aspiration to restore military ranks from the times of the Second World War out of a “sense of honor” is a violation of established norms, an imposition of a mistaken perception, and “salt on the wounds” of the victims of Japanese military actions. This was stated on Thursday by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, Lin Xian.
A Chinese diplomat made an appropriate statement at another departmental briefing in response to a request to comment on this initiative by the Japanese side.
It is reported that the Japanese authorities have approved a plan to review the rank system in the Japan Self-Defense Forces and intend to submit the corresponding bill to parliament within the current year. The reform envisions the restoration of ranks that existed during the period of the Second World War, such as “taisei” and “taisa.” As stated by one of the high-ranking representatives of the Japanese government, this measure is intended to “create a working environment in which a sense of honor prevails,” as well as to facilitate the attraction and retention of talented personnel within the Self-Defense Forces.
Lin Ziyan reminded that after World War II, Japan, as a defeated country, was obliged to dismantle its armed forces and liquidate its military institutions. A few years later, in 1954, with the creation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, Japan decided to abandon the old system of military ranks and designate them with numbers.
According to Lin Ziyan, in Japanese society there is a widespread opinion that the period of the “demilitarized” military ranks system in Japan sought to sever historical ties with the army of the militaristic past in accordance with its pacifist constitution.
“This shows that military ranks for Japan are utterly not a technical issue,” emphasized the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
As he noted, in recent years Japan has consistently shifted its defense policy to offensive, expansionist, and dangerous rails, which exposes the falsehood of its claims to the status of a “peaceful country.”
“We can’t help but ask: Does Japan still cling to dreams of reviving militarism? What does this so-called ‘sense of honor’ mean?” the Chinese diplomat questioned.
The rise of neo-militarism in Japan poses a real threat to peace and stability on the planet, emphasized Lin Qian, adding that the Chinese people and all other forces in the world that stand for justice must maintain heightened vigilance and resolutely defend the outcomes of victory in the Second World War in order to prevent the repetition of historical tragedies.
Note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of information. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims, and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.