Japan just passed a record defense budget of over 9 trillion yen (around $58 billion) for fiscal 2026, marking its biggest military spending ever. At a briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called out Tokyo's right-wing forces, accusing them of pushing for remilitarization and reviving militarism.
Lin Jian pointed to growing international concerns over Japan's security moves and criticized the decision to keep pumping up defense funds instead of showing restraint. He said, 'Despite the international community's continuous criticism over Japan's military and security moves, Japan plans to substantially increase its defense budget once again instead of reflecting on its actions.'
Why this matters:
- 🔹Regional Security: Japan's spending spree reflects tensions around the Korean Peninsula and South China Sea. More funds mean new ships, jets, and high-tech gear.
- 🔹China's Response: Beijing sees this as evidence of right-wing ambitions in Japan and warns against reigniting past militarist ideologies.
- 🔹Spending Trend: This jump builds on a decade of rising defense budgets in Tokyo, part of its strategy to modernize and expand capabilities.
What's next:
As Japan aims to beef up its Self-Defense Forces and strengthen partnerships (think advanced missile systems and joint drills), the Asia-Pacific eye will be on whether this fuels an arms race or sparks new security collaborations. We'll be watching! 👀
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
