Japan’s defence minister has hit back at accusations of a return to militarism, instead pointing the finger at China’s “huge arsenal” as the region’s real destabilising force. The blunt rebuke came during a press conference in Tokyo, as the minister sought to justify a record defence budget that has sparked alarm in Beijing and among some pacifist circles at home.
“Japan is not building an offensive capability”, the minister insisted. “We are responding to a very real threat: China’s massive military buildup, its aggressive posture in the East China Sea, and its lack of transparency.” The statement marks a sharp departure from Tokyo’s traditionally cautious language on defence, and underscores the growing tension between Asia’s two largest economies.
For decades, Japan’s post-war constitution limited its military to a strictly self-defence role. But a reinterpretation in 2014, coupled with a new National Security Strategy published last year, has paved the way for a more assertive stance. The government plans to double defence spending to 2% of GDP by 2027, a move that critics say breaks with the country’s pacifist tradition.
The minister dismissed such concerns. “Our neighbours need not fear Japan. We are a mature democracy, committed to peace and the rule of law. The same cannot be said for Beijing, which continues to build up its military arsenal without any clear justification.”
China’s foreign ministry immediately fired back, accusing Japan of “hyping up the so-called China threat” to justify its own militarisation. “Japan has a history of aggression against its neighbours. The international community should be vigilant against such moves,” a spokesperson said.
The exchange comes as the US deepens its alliance with Japan, positioning it as a key bulwark against Chinese expansion. Washington has welcomed Tokyo’s increased defence spending, but it has also put the Japanese government in a delicate position: reassuring domestic audiences that it is not returning to the militarism of the 1930s, while standing up to a rising China.
For ordinary Japanese, the debate feels distant but consequential. “I understand we need to defend ourselves, but I worry about escalating tensions with China”, said one Tokyo resident. “We rely on trade with China. A confrontation would hurt everyone.”
The minister’s remarks are unlikely to ease such anxieties. But they signal that Japan is no longer willing to be the quiet partner in its alliance with the US. As the region’s security landscape shifts, Tokyo is finding its voice – and it is a voice that Beijing will not like.
