Beijing, China - Dec 16, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of press briefing, reporters
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Guo Jiakun, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (starting with shot 1/partially overlaid with shot 3):
"The Japanese side made groundless and false accusations against China's legitimate defense development. This egregious act was rather disgraceful. With regard to peace and security, China has the best track record among major countries. The increase of China's defense expenditure is legitimate and lawful, which is necessary for China's response to security challenges, protection of legitimate national interests, and better fulfillment of its international responsibility and obligation as a major country. The Japanese side, with a poor track record of aggression, is in no position to make such irresponsible remarks."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
3. Reporters
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
4. Reporters
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Guo Jiakun, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"Due to the horrendous and untold history of aggression, Japan's moves in military and security areas have been closely watched by its Asian neighbors and the international community. During fiscal year 2025, Japan's defense spending per capita and spending per defense personnel are three times and more than two times that of China respectively. In recent years, Japan has been revamping the security and defense policies and increasing its defense budget for 13 consecutive years with a jump of around 60 percent in recent five years. Japan has also removed the ban on exercising the right to collective self-defense, developed the so-called 'capability to strike enemy bases', revised principles on arms exports, strengthened cooperation on extended deterrence, and attempted to revise its three non-nuclear principles."
6. Reporters
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Guo Jiakun, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"Japan claims to uphold the exclusively defense-oriented principle and the passive defense strategy, but in fact violates its obligations as a defeated country clearly stated in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation and goes against its commitments made in the Constitution. Who is expanding military buildup? Who is trying to interfere in other countries' internal affairs by force and challenging their core interests? Who is threatening regional peace and stability? The facts are crystal clear for all to see."
8. Reporters
9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Guo Jiakun, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (starting with shot 8):
"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."
10. Reporters

As a country with a history of aggression, Japan has no right to comment on China's defense expenditure, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

Guo was responding to a media query on Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi's remarks on China's military spending.

"The Japanese side made groundless and false accusations against China's legitimate defense development. This egregious act was rather disgraceful. With regard to peace and security, China has the best track record among major countries. The increase of China's defense expenditure is legitimate and lawful, which is necessary for China's response to security challenges, protection of legitimate national interests, and better fulfillment of its international responsibility and obligation as a major country. The Japanese side, with a poor track record of aggression, is in no position to make such irresponsible remarks," said Guo.

"Due to the horrendous and untold history of aggression, Japan's moves in military and security areas have been closely watched by its Asian neighbors and the international community. During fiscal year 2025, Japan's defense spending per capita and spending per defense personnel are three times and more than two times that of China respectively. In recent years, Japan has been revamping the security and defense policies and increasing its defense budget for 13 consecutive years with a jump of around 60 percent in recent five years. Japan has also removed the ban on exercising the right to collective self-defense, developed the so-called 'capability to strike enemy bases', revised principles on arms exports, strengthened cooperation on extended deterrence, and attempted to revise its three non-nuclear principles," he said.

"Japan claims to uphold the exclusively defense-oriented principle and the passive defense strategy, but in fact violates its obligations as a defeated country clearly stated in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation and goes against its commitments made in the Constitution. Who is expanding military buildup? Who is trying to interfere in other countries' internal affairs by force and challenging their core interests? Who is threatening regional peace and stability? The facts are crystal clear for all to see," said Guo.

"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," said the spokesman.