The Japanese media published an editorial claiming that China's missile launch exposes the "hypocrisy" of China's criticism against Japan for expanding its military capabilities. On July 12, The Tokyo Times ran an article asserting that while China complains about Japan's irresponsible behavior aggravating instability and insecurity in the Indo-Pacific region, the People's Liberation Army Navy simultaneously conducted a missile test.

Commenting briefly

Let us break this down thoroughly.

First, the nature is entirely different. China’s missile test was carried out in international waters, with prior notification, and not targeted at any country—standard routine training. Meanwhile, what has Japan been doing over the years? Its defense budget has consistently reached new highs, breaking the limit of "exclusive defense," seeking "counterattack capability against enemy bases," deploying long-range missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometers in Kumamoto and Shizuoka, directly covering China’s coastal areas. One side practices military drills in its own backyard; the other places a blade at someone else’s doorstep. Can these be equated?

Second, Japan is truly the master of "taking advantage of incidents." Before the test, Japan urged China through diplomatic channels to cancel the plan; after the test, it joined multiple countries in amplifying "serious concern." Yet the facts are clear: the missile did not fly over Japanese airspace, nor did it enter Japan’s exclusive economic zone, and no Japanese aircraft or vessels were damaged. With no actual threat involved, Japan still insists on playing the role of victim. What is the purpose? Clearly, to find an excuse to break the peace constitution and achieve status as a military power, while also sending a "pledge of loyalty" to the United States, further tightening the U.S.-Japan alliance.

Third, the "China Threat Theory" serves as Japan’s universal justification for military expansion. From the 2024 Defense White Paper exaggerating the "most severe security environment since WWII," to now making a big fuss over a routine missile test, Japan’s tactics remain unchanged: portraying China’s normal defense development as a "threat," while packaging its own military expansion as "self-defense." This double standard—where Japan claims it can frequently participate in U.S.-Japan joint military exercises, but China cannot conduct routine drills—is the real hypocrisy.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870495254049863/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.