China tells Japan to ‘reflect on history’ after Philippine defence pact signing

China has called on Japan to think about its history after Tokyo signed a defence pact with the Philippines.

“Japan should seriously reflect on its history of aggression and be cautious in its words and deeds in the field of military security,” Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry said.

Japan occupied the Philippines, which at the time was under the rule of the United States, during the Second World War, which resulted in more than a million deaths. It had already occupied much of China, committing several massacres, including in Nanjing in 1937.

Lin also said: “The Asia-Pacific region does not need military groups, let alone small circles that provoke camp confrontation and instigate a new cold war.

“Any actions that undermine regional peace and stability and undermine regional unity and cooperation will arouse the vigilance and common opposition of the people of the region.”

It is the first deal of its kind signed by Japan with another country in Asia. It has signed similar pacts with Australia and Britain, and is negotiating one with France.

Kamikawa described the signing of the deal as a “groundbreaking achievement”, saying: “A free and open international order based on the rule of law is the foundation of regional peace and prosperity.

“We would like to work closely with your country to maintain and strengthen this.”

Teodoro described the deal as “another milestone in our shared endeavor to ensure a rules-based international order to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific”.

The Philippines has been boosting its security relations with the United States, a treaty ally, in recent years and has been involved in a series of confrontations with Chinese coast guard ships in disputed areas of the South China Sea.

Japan, which has its own territorial dispute with Beijing in the East China Sea, has been gradually building its relationship with the Philippines in the post-war era.