Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) disembark from a V-22 Osprey aircraft during a live fire exercise at East Fuji Maneuver Area in Gotemba on May 28, 2022. (PHOTO / POOL / AFP)

BEIJING - A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday urged Japan to earnestly respect the security concerns of neighboring countries, reflect on its history of aggression, and commit itself to the path of peaceful development.

It is reported that the Japanese government adopted the updated Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and its implementation guidelines (herein referred to as "Three Principles") on Dec 22 with a decision to provide its home-made Patriot air defense missiles to the United States. It is the first time that Japan has allowed the export of destruction weapons since its Cabinet's adoption of the Three Principles in 2014.

Japan's Cabinet also approved the budget for Fiscal Year 2024 with a record defense budget of around JPY 7.9 trillion ($56 billion), up by 16.6 percent year-on-year

On the same day, the Cabinet approved the budget for Fiscal Year 2024 with a record defense budget of around JPY 7.9 trillion ($56 billion), up by 16.6 percent year- on-year.

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In response to a related query, spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that given Japan's recent history of militarist aggression, Japan's military and security moves are closely watched by its Asian neighbors and the international community.

In recent years, Japan has been drastically readjusting its security policy, increasing defense spending year after year, easing the restrictions on arms export and seeking military breakthroughs, Mao said.

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"We urge Japan to earnestly respect the security concerns of neighboring countries, reflect on its history of aggression, commit itself to the path of peaceful development and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the wider international community through concrete actions," she said.