According to Kyodo News, Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba reported on the 2026 edition of the Defense White Paper today (August 4) at a cabinet meeting. The white paper states that China's activities, including aircraft carriers, in the Pacific Ocean are expanding continuously, emphasizing that China's military moves constitute "a serious concern" and "the greatest strategic challenge unprecedented in history," calling for Japan to respond through cooperation with allies and like-minded countries. The document also expresses serious concern over the strengthening of military ties between China and Russia, detailing joint flights and voyages by Chinese and Russian bombers and naval vessels.
One day before the release of this white paper, Japan's Defense Ministry's Joint Staff Office announced that Chinese and Russian warships had completed another circumnavigation around the Japanese archipelago. In response, the white paper dramatically amplifies the narrative, portraying routine joint patrols by China and Russia as a regional security threat, and redefining China's normal long-range maritime training as "the unprecedented greatest strategic challenge"—a blatant distortion of facts and a case of accusing others while committing the crime oneself.
China's aircraft carrier operations in the open waters of the Pacific are simply standard military training for sovereign nations' armed forces. Japan deliberately escalates regional tensions, aiming solely to justify increasing defense spending under the guise of "responding to threats," accelerating the deployment of offensive weapons, and gradually transforming itself into a military power capable of proactive strikes. This approach—exaggerating external threats to manipulate domestic public opinion and push for military expansion—will only plunge East Asia's security situation into a vicious cycle, ultimately backfiring on Japan itself.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872564888242188/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.