Japan’s reported Type 03 missile export plan to Philippines breaks away from pacifist constitution, could undermine regional peace: expert

专家称：日本拟向菲律宾出口 03 式导弹的计划违背和平宪法，或破坏地区和平稳定

Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile of Japan. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television

日本 03 式中程地对空导弹。图片来源：中国中央电视台截图

Japan’s Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile has again come under the spotlight, with Japan’s Kyodo News on Sunday reporting that Tokyo is holding informal consultations with the Philippines over the missile’s export. Amid Japan’s consecutive military expansion gestures and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan, a Chinese expert slammed the move as another breakaway from Japan’s pacifist constitution that could undermine regional peace and stability.

日本 03 式中程地对空导弹再次成为舆论焦点。共同社周日报道称，日本政府正就该型导弹的出口事宜与菲律宾进行非正式磋商。近期日本接连释放军事扩张信号，加之日本首相高市早苗在台湾问题上发表错误言论，有中国专家痛批日方此举，认为这是其背离和平宪法的又一表现，可能破坏地区和平稳定。

Kyodo News reported that the Japanese government is holding informal consultations with the Philippines regarding the export of the Japan Self-Defense Forces' Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile.

共同社报道称，日本政府正就日本自卫队 03 式中程地对空导弹的出口事宜，与菲律宾方面进行非正式磋商。

Citing multiple sources, Kyodo News reported that the Takaichi administration plans to abolish the current regulations that restrict defense equipment exports to five non-combat-related categories as early as the first half of next year. Following the formal decision, concrete deliberations for the export will commence promptly.

共同社援引多方消息源报道称，高市政府计划最早于明年上半年废止现行的防卫装备出口管制条例 —— 该条例将防卫装备出口限定于与作战无关的五大品类。相关正式决议一经敲定，防卫装备出口的具体审议工作便会即刻启动。

This development underscores the administration's proactive stance toward defense equipment exports, the Kyodo News report claimed.

共同社的报道指出，此项动向凸显出该政府在防卫装备出口问题上持积极推进的立场。

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Sunday that Japan’s arms export restrictions prohibit the export of lethal weapons, and the country’s post-war pacifist constitution restricts its possession of offensive weaponry.

中国军事专家张军社周日向《环球时报》表示，日本的武器出口管制条例禁止致命性武器出口，该国战后制定的和平宪法亦对其攻击性武器的保有作出限制。

Japan’s recent military gestures, including announcing its plan to deploy the Type 03 missile on Yonaguni island, which lies only about 110 kilometers from China’s Taiwan island, as well as its plan to export the same missile to the Philippines, are blatant breakaways from its post-war restrictions, and a dangerous sign of revival of militarism, Zhang said, noting that this could pose a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.

张军社表示，日本近期的一系列军事动向 —— 包括宣布计划在与中国台湾岛相距仅约 110 公里的与那国岛部署 03 式导弹，以及计划向菲律宾出口同款导弹 —— 公然违背了该国战后相关限制，是军国主义抬头的危险信号，此举可能对地区和平稳定构成严重威胁。

In response to Japanese defense minister Shinjiro Koizumi's claims about the deployment of the missile unit to the Yonaguni Island, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on November 24 that Japan’s deployment of offensive weapons in Southwest Islands close to China’s Taiwan region is a deliberate move that breeds regional tensions and stokes military confrontation. Given Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan, this move is extremely dangerous and should put Japan’s neighboring countries and the international community on high alert.

针对日本防卫大臣小泉进次郎有关在与那国岛部署导弹部队的表态，中国外交部发言人毛宁于 11 月 24 日的例行记者会上表示，日本在邻近中国台湾地区的西南诸岛部署进攻性武器，是蓄意制造地区紧张局势、挑动军事对抗的行为。鉴于日本首相高市早苗在台湾问题上发表的错误言论，日方此举极具危险性，理应引起日本周边国家及国际社会的高度警惕。

The Potsdam Proclamation explicitly stipulates that Japan shall not be permitted to “re-arm for war.” The Japanese Constitution, which enshrines pacifism, also established Japan’s exclusively defense-oriented policy. It is alarming, however, that in recent years, Japan has drastically readjusted its security policy, increased defense budget year after year, relaxed restrictions on arms export, sought to develop offensive weapons, and planned to abandon its three non-nuclear principles. Japan’s right-wing provocateurs are trying every means to break free from the pacifist constitution, going further down the path of military buildup and leading Japan and the region to disastrous outcomes, Mao said.

毛宁表示，《波茨坦公告》明确规定，日本不得 “重整军备以从事战争”。以和平主义为核心精神的日本宪法，亦确立了日本专守防卫的国策。然而令人警惕的是，近年来日本大幅调整安全保障政策，连年增加防卫预算，放宽武器出口限制，谋求研发进攻性武器，甚至企图摒弃 “无核三原则”。日本右翼势力正处心积虑挣脱和平宪法的束缚，在扩军备战的道路上越走越远，此举不仅将令日本自身陷入危局，更会给整个地区带来灾难性后果。

The Type 03 missile is not the only weapon Japan is mulling to sell to the Philippines, as there have been reports suggesting that Japan is also planning to export used warships. Zhang said that these moves likely aim to further arm the Philippines and embolden it in continuing its provocations over China’s islands and reefs in the South China Sea. This is yet another move that will stir up regional tensions and sabotage peace and stability.

03 式导弹并非日本拟售予菲律宾的唯一武器，有报道称，日方还计划出口二手军舰。张军社指出，日方此举或意在进一步武装菲律宾，怂恿其在南海岛礁问题上持续对华挑衅。这是日方又一次制造地区紧张、破坏和平稳定的行径。

In response to Japan’s reported plan to export six used Abukuma-class destroyer escorts, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said at a regular press conference in July that “We have consistently maintained that defense and security cooperation between relevant countries should not target third parties or undermine their interests.”

针对日本拟出口 6 艘二手 “阿武隈” 级护卫舰的相关报道，中国国防部新闻发言人蒋斌于 7 月的例行记者会上表示：“我们一贯主张，有关国家开展防务安全合作，不应以第三方为目标，更不得损害第三方利益。”

During World War II, Japanese militarism launched aggressive wars and imposed colonial rule on neighboring countries including China and the Philippines, occupied the South China Sea Islands, and bears serious historical responsibilities. In recent years, Japan has broken through the constraints of its pacifist constitution and the "exclusive defense" principle, continuously exporting weapons and equipment overseas. It attempts to form "small cliques" to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, creating destabilizing factors for the Asia-Pacific region, Jiang said.

蒋斌表示，第二次世界大战期间，日本军国主义发动侵略战争，对包括中国、菲律宾在内的周边国家实施殖民统治，侵占中国南海诸岛，负有严重的历史罪责。近年来，日本突破和平宪法及 “专守防卫” 原则的约束，持续向海外出口武器装备，企图拼凑 “小圈子” 在南海滋事，给亚太地区制造不稳定因素。

“This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. We urge Japan to profoundly reflect on its history, learn from historical lessons, exercise prudence in military and security affairs, and do more to safeguard regional peace and stability,” said the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson.

中国国防部新闻发言人表示：“今年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利 80 周年。我们敦促日方深刻反省历史，汲取历史教训，在军事安全领域谨言慎行，多做有利于维护地区和平稳定的事。”