ISTANBUL

China on Tuesday urged all “peace-loving” nations to “firmly thwart” any move that can “revive Japanese militarism” amid ongoing Beijing-Tokyo tensions on Taiwan.

Remarks from Beijing came after Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi reportedly said on Tuesday that China’s military spending has increased by seven times in 20 years.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that the Japanese side “made groundless and false accusations against China’s legitimate defense development.”

“The increase in China’s defense expenditure is legitimate and lawful, which is necessary for China’s response to security challenges and protection of legitimate national interests,” Guo said.

He said that the Japanese side, with a “poor track record of aggression,” is in “no position to make such irresponsible remarks,” stressing that Tokyo has been increasing its defense budget in recent years.

“Japan’s attempts to remilitarize at a faster pace will only once again raise questions about where Japan is headed. All peace-loving countries should be on high alert, firmly thwart any dangerous move that may revive Japanese militarism, and jointly uphold the hard-won outcomes of WWII victory,” he added.

On Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Guo said that the three countries “reaffirmed their commitments to the one-China principle and reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.”

On Monday’s remarks by Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who reportedly said that Tokyo fully understands and respects this stand of China regarding Taiwan, Guo said Beijing noted the remarks.

Guo urged the “Japanese side to abide by the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, earnestly do soul-searching and correct its wrongdoings and retract the erroneous remarks made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.”

Tensions between China and Japan have escalated since Nov. 7, when Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could legally constitute a “survival-threatening situation,” potentially allowing Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense.

Beijing sharply criticized the remarks, urged Chinese tourists to avoid Japan, suspended seafood imports and postponed a trilateral culture ministers’ meeting with Japan and South Korea.