Diplomatic Blue Book 2021 expresses stronger concerns about China

The Foreign Ministry published on Tuesday the 2021 version of its Diplomatic Blue Book, which outlines deeper concerns about China’s military advancement than earlier versions.

The blue book clearly states that China’s military advancement “has been a source of strong concerns over the security of the region, including Japan and the international community.”

The terminology was strengthened from the 2020 version that referred to “common concerns in the region and the international community,” indicating the Japanese government’s sense of urgency.

Regarding China’s military power, the blue book notes that the country’s defense budget has risen about 44-fold in the past 30 years. It also introduces an analysis by the U.S. Defense Department that “China has already achieved parity with — or even exceeded — the United States in several military modernization areas, including land-based conventional ballistic and cruise missiles.”

The blue book says that while the economies of many countries worldwide have experienced negative growth due to the impact of the coronavirus, China has realized positive growth and proactively utilized vaccine diplomacy.

It also clearly says China has “shown remarkable advancements in various fields.”

The blue book mentions human rights abuses occurring in China. Regarding the repression of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, the blue book expresses “serious concern.” On persecution of the Uighurs, it states, “It is important that freedom, respect for basic human rights and the rule of law are guaranteed.”

About the Japan-South Korea relationship, the blue book mentions the Seoul Central District Court’s ruling in January that ordered the Japanese government to pay compensation to former so-called comfort women. The blue book emphasizes, “It clearly violated international laws and the two countries’ bilateral agreement. It is extremely regrettable and can never be accepted.”

In April, the district court turned down a demand in a similar lawsuit filed by former comfort women and other plaintiffs. (April 29)