Beijing on Friday (December 5, 2025) urged Tokyo to step up the clean disposal of abandoned chemical weapons left on the Chinese mainland after Japan's World War II aggression. The call came at a press briefing from China's Ministry of National Defense, where spokesperson Jiang Bin introduced a new white paper titled "Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation in the New Era."
Jiang criticized Tokyo's slow progress, saying that abandoned stockpiles continue to threaten the lives and property of local residents. According to Beijing, Japanese forces used these weapons during their war of aggression, causing over 200,000 military and civilian casualties, and later left behind caches that have already poisoned more than 2,000 people and contaminated soil and water.
In the white paper, China outlines a five-point demand for Japan:
- Thoroughly collect and destroy all abandoned chemical weapons in an environmentally sound way;
- Share detailed information on weapon locations and compositions;
- Collaborate with Chinese experts in site identification and disposal;
- Take responsibility for treating polluted land and water;
- Set a clear, early timeline to complete the cleanup.
Experts say that lingering chemical munitions pose a long-term risk to public health and ecosystems, and they welcome Beijing's push for transparency and cooperation. As the region prepares for more joint environmental and security dialogues in 2026, analysts view this issue as a litmus test for deeper trust and collaboration between the two neighbors.
The white paper reflects China's broader strategy to lead global conversations on arms control and nonproliferation, positioning Beijing as a key voice in promoting multilateral solutions to lingering wartime legacies.
Reference(s):
China urges Japan to speed up disposal of abandoned chemical weapons
cgtn.com
