Japan Denies Remilitarization Claims from China, Russia

Japan has rejected criticism from China and Russia regarding its perceived remilitarization as “unfounded.” Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously stated that Japan is speeding up its remilitarization, which they believe poses a threat to regional peace and stability.

Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki told a news conference that Japan seeks China to alter its behavior regarding Beijing’s military activities, which he considers a significant concern for the international community, and urged Russia to cease its invasion of Ukraine.

The deteriorating relationship between Japan and China began after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks in November 2021, where she stated that China’s potential use of force against Taiwan could be a survival-threatening situation for Japan, potentially invoking collective self-defense. Since then, China has consistently opposed Japan’s rearmament efforts.

In a significant shift from its postwar security stance, Japan recently removed longstanding restrictions on military equipment transfers, allowing the export of lethal weapons as it aims to expand its defense industry and strategic reach. This move sparked strong interest in countries like Poland and South Korea, amid uncertainty over US security commitments and strained supplies due to conflicts in Iran and Ukraine.

The changes were approved by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling party this week, aiming to invigorate Japan’s military industrial base despite the country largely isolating itself from global arms markets since World War Two. Despite spending $60 billion on its military this year, Japan is capable of producing advanced systems such as submarines and fighter jets.