July 9, 2026 15:46 / Lianhe Zaobao
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense criticized Japan’s plan to establish a space operations group for accelerating space weaponization and battlefieldization and stimulating an arms race in outer space.
Chen Xi, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, said at a regular press conference on Thursday (July 9) that in recent years, Japan has regarded outer space as a combat domain and extended its military expansion ambitions to space. The military investment in relevant fields has increased 10-fold within five years, and the number of combat troops has expanded by more than 30 times.
Chen Xi criticized that “these moves accelerate space weaponization and battlefieldization, stimulate an arms race in outer space, and once again prove that Japan’s ‘new-type militarism’ has become a naked realistic threat.”
He said that the lasting peace and security of outer space are related to the security, development and prosperity of all countries. People who love peace should be highly vigilant against Japan’s dangerous moves in the space field, firmly curb the acceleration of “remilitarization” by Japanese right-wing forces, and safeguard the common home of all mankind.
According to Japan’s Kyodo News, the amendment to the “Defense Agency Establishment Law”, which includes renaming the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to the “Aerospace Self-Defense Force” and adding two vice defense ministers, was voted and passed at the plenary session of the House of Councillors on June 26 and officially took effect after legislation.
According to the bill, Japan will officially establish the “Aerospace Self-Defense Force” within this year, and will then newly form a space specialized unit “Space Operations Group” commanded by a “General of the Air Force” (equivalent to an air force lieutenant general), aiming to promote satellite launch services, master space dynamics and strengthen orbital surveillance capabilities.
中国国防部批日本加速推动太空武器化战场化
2026年7月9日 15:46 / 联合早报
中国国防部批评日本计划组建宇宙作战集团是在加速推动太空武器化、战场化，刺激太空军备竞赛。
中国国防部发言人陈曦星期四（7月9日）在例行记者会上说，近年，日本将太空作为作战领域，把军事扩张野心伸向太空，相关领域军事投入五年内增长10倍，作战兵力扩张30余倍。
陈曦批评“这些举动加速推动太空武器化、战场化，刺激太空军备竞赛，也再次证明日本‘新型军国主义’已成为赤裸裸的现实威胁。”
他说，太空的持久和平与安全关乎各国的安全、发展和繁荣，爱好和平的人们应高度警惕日方在太空领域的危险动向，坚决遏阻日本右翼势力加速“再军事化”，维护好全人类的共同家园。
据日本共同社报道，包含将日本航空自卫队更名为“航空宇宙自卫队”、增设两名防卫副大臣等条款的《防卫省设置法》修正案，于6月26日在参议院全体会议上表决通过，正式立法生效。
根据该法案，日本将在今年内正式编设“航空宇宙自卫队”，届时将新组建由“空将”（相当于空军中将）指挥的太空领域专门部队——“宇宙作战集团”，旨在推进卫星发射业务、掌握太空动态及强化对轨道的监视能力。