China’s military build-up could ‘seriously’ affect Japan’s security, Tokyo warns
Release of defence ministry report comes amid soaring tensions with Beijing and a boost to Japan’s military budget and goals
China’s military build-up “could have a serious impact” on Japan’s security, Tokyo’s defence ministry has warned amid spiralling tensions with Beijing.
Japan had closely monitored People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activities stretching across the first island chain, the ministry said in a report released on Thursday.
“[China] is broadly and rapidly strengthening its military capabilities, centred on its maritime and air forces as well as its nuclear and missile forces ... Its active military activities have created a situation that could have a serious impact on Japan’s security,” the report said.
Japan, which says China’s 2025 defence budget is more than four times its own, is reportedly eyeing a significant bump in military spending for the coming year.
A Kyodo report last week citing government sources said Japan aimed to boost its 2026 defence budget to over 9 trillion yen (US$57.2 billion). If confirmed, it would exceed this year’s record 8.7 trillion yen.