China Ministry of Defense Rejects Japan's 2026 Defense White Paper

China's Ministry of National Defense strongly condemned the release of Japan's 2026 Defense White Paper, rejecting Tokyo's characterization of Chinese military activities as an unprecedented strategic challenge. Defense Ministry spokesperson Chen Xi accused Japan of spreading false narratives and hyping regional security risks to lift restrictions on its own military. Beijing urged Japan to reflect on its wartime history, adhere to its strictly defensive posture, and cease interference in China's internal affairs, particularly regarding Taiwan.

The sharp exchange underscores deepening strategic distrust between East Asia's two largest economies. As Japan accelerates its security policy revisions and expands defense expenditure, Beijing views Tokyo's security posture as a direct challenge to the post-World War II regional order and its core interests around Taiwan and the East China Sea.

China's Ministry of National Defense has issued a stern response following the release of Japan's 2026 Defense White Paper, strongly opposing Tokyo's assessment of regional security and Chinese military developments. In response to media inquiries, Defense Ministry spokesperson Chen Xi sharply criticized the newly published Japanese report, according to statements released by official Chinese military outlets. Japan's 2026 White Paper characterized Chinese military activities as an unprecedented strategic challenge and highlighted increasing military operations around Taiwan, claiming that Japan's security environment has reached its most severe state since the end of World War II. Chen rejected these allegations, stating that the document relies on false narratives and exaggerates regional threat perceptions. According to the spokesperson, Tokyo is hyping the 'China threat' to create pretexts for easing legal and institutional constraints on its armed forces. Beijing asserted that while Japanese authorities claim to adhere to an exclusively defense-oriented policy, Tokyo is steadily advancing revisions to its 'Three Security Documents,' boosting defense spending, and acquiring long-range offensive strike capabilities. Chen also accused Japan of promoting the weaponization of space and embedding defense industry growth into its broader national institutions, economy, and public messaging, describing the emergence of a 'new militarism' as a threat to post-war international order. Addressing the topic of Taiwan, the spokesperson reiterated that the issue directly concerns Chinese sovereignty and forms the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations. Beijing urged Japan to reflect deeply on its history of aggression, stop misguiding public opinion, and cease interfering in China's internal affairs.