China expresses serious concerns over Japan's deployment of long-range missiles, foreign ministry says

China expresses serious concerns over Japan's deployment of long-range missiles in Kumamoto and Shizuoka prefectures, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.

According to reports, long-range missiles with counterstrike capabilities have been brought into service for the first time at two Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) bases in Japan.

"Japan, under the pretext of defense and counter-strike, is deploying offensive weapons, going far beyond the scope of 'self-defense' and its exclusively defense-oriented policy," Mao told a regular press briefing, adding that Japanese "new militarism" is threatening regional peace and stability, and the international community should be highly vigilant against it.