Chinese defense chief warns against militarism, historical revisionism in veiled jab at Japan

China’s defense chief used a keynote speech at a regional security forum in Beijing on Wednesday to warn against militarism and historical revisionism, remarks seen as a veiled criticism of Japan. In his address, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun said that the lessons of history must not be forgotten and urged vigilance against “hegemony, militarism and historical revisionism,” according to Chinese state-run media. Dong’s remarks at the three-day Xiangshan Forum came as Sino-Japanese ties remain at their lowest point in decades, more than 10 months after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that Tokyo could intervene militarily in a crisis over democratic Taiwan.