Chinese, Russian leaders rap Japan for "accelerated remilitarization"

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday criticized Japan for what they view as its "current course toward accelerated remilitarization," saying it poses "a serious threat" to regional peace and stability.

The two leaders also said in a joint statement after their talks that they are wary of "extreme provocations" by Japan's right-wing forces, including pushing for revisions to the country's three non-nuclear principles that prohibit Tokyo from possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons.