Japan's record defense budget raises concerns: FM spokesperson

BEIJING - China is concerned about the significant increase in Japan's defense budget, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday, urging the Japanese side to speak and act prudently in the military and security fields.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to reports that the Japanese government on Dec 23 agreed on a record defense budget of 6.8 trillion yen (about 51 billion US dollars) for fiscal year 2023.

Wang said Japan is playing up regional tensions to seek military breakthroughs, which is dangerous and has aroused strong doubts among its Asian neighbors and in the international community about whether Japan can adhere to an exclusively defense-oriented policy and path of peaceful development.

"The Japanese side should seriously reflect on its history of aggression, and speak and act prudently in the military and security fields, so as not to lose further credit with its Asian neighbors and the international community," Wang said.