Japan's postures risk harming global peace

Japan has repeatedly hyped up the so-called "China threat" narrative in recent years in an attempt to justify its expanding military agenda, experts said, warning that portraying neighboring countries as "threats" has historically been a recurring tactic of Japanese militarism.

They said the latest round of alarmist rhetoric once again reveals the ambitions of Japan's right-wing forces to loosen postwar constraints, expand military capabilities and advance a broader transformation of the country's security posture.

Japanese media outlets on Wednesday disclosed an outline of the government's 2026 defense white paper, which continues to portray the regional security environment as "increasingly severe" while introducing a new section on "emerging modes of warfare", calling for enhanced development in unmanned systems and artificial intelligence.

According to the Asahi Shimbun, the upcoming annual defense report largely follows the narrative of the 2025 edition, arguing that the international community has entered a "new era of crisis", characterizing the security environment in the "Indo-Pacific region" as "increasingly severe", and hyping up the so-called "China threat" theory.

The white paper states that defense production and technological capabilities are directly linked to defense strength. It advocates creating an "environment of mutual support" by deploying the same defense equipment as allies and other "like-minded" countries, the newspaper said.

Liu Shuliang, an associate researcher at the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences, said Japan is moving beyond the bounds of its postwar defense posture and accelerating a broader remilitarization process associated with "new militarism", through measures such as revising its national security framework, enhancing offensive combat capabilities and integrating intelligence systems.

Through sustained lobbying by defense-related companies and capital groups, Japan's military-industrial complex has pushed for higher defense spending and fewer restrictions on arms exports, he said.

"These developments are contributing to the country's accelerating remilitarization and reinforcing concerns over its shift toward a 'new militarism'," Liu said.

He said that in early May, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi outlined Japan's revamped "free and open Indo-Pacific" vision during her visit to Vietnam. The policy line was later reaffirmed by Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, a major defense forum held in Singapore.

Geopolitical ambitions

"By advancing a revised 'free and open Indo-Pacific' vision and redefining its regional role, Japan is moving to expand its military reach while enhancing its influence in regional affairs. The strategy reflects Tokyo's growing ambition to play a larger role in shaping the regional security order, a move that carries clear geopolitical implications and has raised concerns over its impact on regional stability," he added.

Chen Hong, director of the Asia-Pacific Studies Centre at East China Normal University in Shanghai, said Japan's continued hype surrounding tensions in the so-called "Indo-Pacific region" is aimed at fueling bloc confrontation and creating exclusive groupings that run counter to the region's need for openness, cooperation and stability.

By deepening economic and security ties with Quad members, the Philippines and other so-called allies or "quasi-allies", Japan has increasingly pushed regional countries to choose sides, aggravating bloc confrontation and adding to tensions in the region, he said.

Chen said Japan's strategy is centered on the "security" agenda. Through intensified military drills and closer defense cooperation with Quad members, the Philippines and other partners, Tokyo is accelerating efforts to enhance its overseas military projection capabilities and expand its regional military presence.

Liu from Tianjin also said Japan and the Philippines — a victim of Japanese militarism and invasion during World War II — have stepped up military collaborations in early May, exploring the transfer of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels, including used destroyer escorts.

"Through intensified military cooperation and joint defense activities with regional partners, Japan is increasing its military presence across the Asia-Pacific region, raising concerns that such actions could aggravate tensions and undermine regional stability," he said.

"The provision of secondhand escorts to the Philippines reflects Japan's deepening involvement in regional security affairs and signals a further loosening of its long-standing postwar defense constraints," Chen said.

He said the move could heighten tensions in the South China Sea, contribute to regional military competition and place additional pressure on the region's security environment.

Japan's shift toward remilitarization is likely to prompt heightened vigilance and potential countermeasures from other countries in the region, Liu said.

Xinhua News Agency contributed to this story.