Key facts
- China's Defense Minister Dong Jun urged nations to avoid 'historical revisionism' and 'hegemony'.
- Dong made the remarks at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on security.
- The comments were likely veiled criticism of Japan.
- Ties between China and Japan have been strained by Japan's stance on a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan.
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun called on countries to avoid "historical revisionism" and "hegemony" in remarks at the opening of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Wednesday. His speech, which urged a more inclusive approach to international tensions, was widely interpreted as veiled criticism of Japan, particularly in light of recent diplomatic friction.
Dong stated, "We must bear the lessons of history in mind and remain highly vigilant against all latent manifestations of hegemony, militarism and historical revisionism." He added, "We must not turn a blind eye or condone such behavior. By rallying broad-based forces of justice, we must suppress the resurgence of historical dregs."