In a tense exchange at the Regional Security Summit in Tokyo, Japan’s Defence Minister Taro Kono dismissed accusations of a return to militarism, instead pointing the finger at Beijing’s expanding military might as the true source of instability in the Indo-Pacific. “Japan’s defence posture is purely defensive,” Kono told reporters, flanked by the nation’s flag. “Meanwhile, China continues to build a huge arsenal without transparency, threatening the rules-based order.”
The remarks come amid heightened friction over the disputed East China Sea islands and China’s assertive activities in the South China Sea. Kono’s comments were a direct rebuttal to Chinese state media claims that Japan was reviving its wartime aggression under the guise of self-defence.
Kono highlighted Japan’s new National Security Strategy, which includes a planned doubling of defence spending to 2% of GDP by 2027, but insisted this was a response to regional threats, not an offensive ambition. “We are not building aircraft carriers or long-range missiles,” he said. “Our focus is on cyber defence, anti-air capabilities, and maritime security.”
China’s foreign ministry swiftly condemned Kono’s statements as “irresponsible and provocative”, accusing Japan of using China as a pretext to break from its pacifist constitution. “The real destabilising factor is Japan’s slide toward militarisation,” a spokesperson said.
Analysts warn that the rhetoric risks escalating into a full-blown arms race. The dispute also threatens trilateral security ties between Japan, the US, and South Korea, which have been strengthening in response to North Korean threats. For now, the war of words continues, with no signs of de-escalation.
