Japan calls China greatest strategic challenge, Beijing protests

The Story in Brief

China has lodged “serious representations” with Japan after Tokyo’s cabinet approved a defence white paper describing China’s military activity as Japan’s “greatest strategic challenge”. The Times of India reports that Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jing accused Japan of repeating the “China threat” narrative and interfering in China’s internal affairs over Taiwan.

The nearly 600-page paper calls for stronger national resilience and closer cooperation with allies and like-minded countries across the Indo-Pacific. It also reaffirms Japan’s three non-nuclear principles, while Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi says Tokyo cannot avoid debating its long-standing pledge not to produce, possess or host nuclear weapons. Tensions have risen since Japan linked a Taiwan contingency to a threat to its survival.

The Indian Opinion

Claims that Japan is simply preparing for war, or that China’s objections are mere rhetoric, flatten a serious security dispute. Tokyo is expanding cooperation while formally retaining its non-nuclear principles. Beijing’s opposition reflects its position on Taiwan, but does not erase Japan’s concerns about regional military activity. The useful test is whether both governments pair sharper language with practical crisis communication, especially around Taiwan and military drills.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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