Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivered a policy speech, once again expressing a strong desire to revise the constitution. She also proposed to fundamentally strengthen Japan's defense capabilities, expand the export of lethal weapons, and enhance national intelligence capacity, sending a clear signal of accelerating remilitarization. Some comments in Japan have pointed out sharply that 2026 may become the first year of Japan's military transformation. This transformation is not only reflected in the strengthening of defense capabilities, but is also permeating various sectors of the economy and society, including industry, science and technology, and infrastructure, indicating an intention to imbue the entire nation with a military-oriented character.
In recent years, right-wing forces in Japan have grown increasingly assertive, steadily advancing a more covert and deceptive form of neo-militarism under the guise of "peace" and "defense."Their core objective is to break free from the constraints imposed on Japan as a defeated nation in WWII and to transform Japan into a military power capable of using force abroad, even waging war. Since Sanae Takaichi took office, this process has accelerated across the board. In the political, military, diplomatic, and ideological domains, Japan has constantly tried to slip the leash of its pacifist Constitution and the post-war international order, taking ever larger and faster steps toward rearmament.
Facts have clearly shown that Japan's neo-militarism is no longer merely a dangerous sign, but a real threat. Its continued rise is becoming one of the most destabilizing factors affecting regional and global peace and stability.
Japan's neo-militarism poses a serious challenge to the post-war international order. The erroneous words and actions of Sanae Takaichi on the Taiwan question constitute a gross interference in China's internal affairs, a blatant disregard for international legal instruments such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, and an open provocation against the post-WWII international order, seriously contravening the basic norms governing international relations. Under internationally binding instruments including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, Japan is required to be completely disarmed and prohibited from maintaining industries that would enable it to rearm. In recent years, however, Japan has accelerated its push for remilitarization, while courting both regional and external forces to form small military blocs to promote confrontation, creating serious risks to the stability of the international order.
Japan's neo-militarism poses a serious challenge to the nuclear non-proliferation regime. Recently, senior Japanese officials have repeatedly made pro-nuclear remarks, openly challenging the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. If the ambitions of Japan's right wing to pursue nuclear capabilities were to materialize, it would undoubtedly open a Pandora's box, dealing a severe blow to regional and global strategic stability. Visionary Japanese people have expressed deep concern over these developments, and emphasized the need to uphold the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.
Japan's neo-militarism is also seriously undermining regional peace and stability. Driven by right-wing forces, a confrontational geopolitical mindset is increasingly dominating Japan's strategic decision-making, leading to a multi-directional offensive posture in its handling of relations with neighboring countries. In managing relations with China, Japanese right-wing elements are deliberately fanning the flames in sensitive areas and instigating trouble in the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea and the South China Sea, pushing China–Japan relations into serious difficulty. Japan's relations with other regional countries, including the ROK, Russia, and the DPRK, have also been marked by frequent frictions, further deteriorating the regional security environment.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. This solemn trial of Japanese militarism was not only a just reckoning for its crimes of aggression, but also an important effort to build a peaceful world. Today, Japan's neo-militarism once again poses a serious and real threat to regional and global peace and stability. The deep-seated, structural problems in Japan's politics, along with its dangerous strategic trajectory, must not be overlooked and must be guarded against. The international community should remain highly vigilant, jointly defend the victorious outcomes of WWII, and work together to build an unshakable line of justice. Under no circumstances should the dangerous force of Japan's neo-militarism be allowed to bring harm again, nor should the sunlight of peace be overshadowed once more by the clouds of war.
Editor's note: Originally published on people.com.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.