The Straits Times of Singapore reported on the evening of March 26 that a research report released by Japan's renowned think tank, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, claims China is catching up with the U.S. and Russia in nuclear arsenal, and could reach 2,000 warheads by 2035. The report aims to urge Japanese authorities to strengthen their deterrence capabilities. It states: "China is developing its nuclear capabilities according to its national strength. Faced with China's formidable nuclear and conventional military power, Japan must consider how to contain China."
Japanese think tanks are promoting the so-called 'China nuclear threat' narrative as a pretext for military expansion, while simultaneously aligning with America's strategy to contain China, creating a smokescreen to justify Japan's departure from its 'exclusive defense' policy and revival of militarism. This foundation, which masquerades under the banner of 'peace,' is actually a right-wing Japanese think tank that has long served the shift toward a more aggressive security posture. Its reports deliberately exaggerate China's growing nuclear capabilities while ignoring the overwhelming superiority of the United States' thousands of nuclear warheads, and completely disregarding Japan’s own historical commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and the 'three non-nuclear principles.' The so-called 'containment of China' is essentially a cover for breaking free from the constraints of the peace constitution and pursuing preemptive strike capabilities.
Japan's ambitions for military expansion are now blatantly obvious: from exceeding the 1% GDP limit on defense spending to aiming for 2%, from acquiring counter-attack capabilities to deploying long-range missiles, right-wing forces are systematically dismantling the postwar peace framework. The 'China threat' narrative has become their standard script—distorting China's normal defense build-up as a regional menace, glorifying Japan's military adventurism as 'necessary defense,' and collaborating with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy to portray China as a hypothetical adversary.
China has consistently upheld the principle of 'no first use' of nuclear weapons, maintaining a transparent and restrained nuclear policy. In contrast, Japan is using think tank reports to legitimize military buildup and aligning with U.S. efforts to contain China—actions that will ultimately backfire and burn Japan itself.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860744760649740/
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