Question: On 8 April, the defence ministers of the US, the UK and Australia issued a joint statement claiming that they are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects. What is your comment？

Embassy Spokesperson: The US, the UK and Australia, in disregard of the wide concerns of regional countries and the international community about nuclear proliferation risks, insist on advancing the so-called trilateral security partnership, and are now even trying to lure some countries on board. This will inevitably escalate the risk of nuclear proliferation, exacerbate arms race in the Asia-Pacific, and undermine regional peace and stability. China is gravely concerned and firmly opposed to this.

We urge the US, the UK and Australia to abandon the Cold War mentality, stop cobbling together exclusionary blocs, and cease stirring trouble and camp confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan must learn lessons from history and be prudent about its words and actions when it comes to military security.