Japan’s Defense Ministry has once again described China’s military activities as “the biggest strategic challenge facing Japan,” calling for increased defense spending, stronger alliances and a reinforced industrial base, as well as preparations for wars relying more heavily on drones and artificial intelligence. The call came in its 2026 white paper, released on 4 August.
The annual report, titled “Defense of Japan 2026,” drew criticism from China, North Korea and South Korea, as neighboring countries accuse Tokyo of seeking to expand its military power and overcome the restrictions imposed on it since World War II.
China tops the defense challenges
The 2026 edition repeated warnings contained in Japan’s revised 2022 National Security Strategy about the growing Chinese threat, linking its policy direction to expanded Japanese defense capabilities and broader cooperation with allies.
Chinese military activities and other Chinese moves are a matter of grave concern for Japan and the international community, and also constitute the biggest strategic challenge facing Japan.
The white paper also voiced Tokyo’s concern over growing military cooperation and operational coordination between China and Russia, including exercises, joint naval operations and long-range bomber patrols.
The report said that “investment in the defense sector benefits the broader economy and people’s lives.” Its cover featured a design inspired by Japanese animation, or “anime,” depicting a happy family in a developed city, unlike previous covers that included military slogans, weapons and soldiers. A Defense Ministry official said the design was intended to present “a vision of the future.”
Objections from China and the two Koreas
A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman said the white paper exaggerates the so-called China threat in order to ease restrictions on strengthening Japan’s military capabilities.
In North Korea, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, hinted at further measures in response to Japan’s efforts to strengthen its military capabilities and acquire the ability to launch preemptive attacks.
Kim accused Japan, in a statement carried by state media, of accelerating its transformation from a “wartime criminal state” into a “war state,” taking advantage of what she described as the escalation of geopolitical conflicts and confrontations between international blocs.
South Korea also criticized Japan’s strategy over Tokyo’s claim of sovereignty over the Dokdo Islands, located off the country’s easternmost coast. Seoul summoned the deputy head of the Japanese mission and conveyed its protest.
An annual report dating back to 1970
The Defense White Paper is an official report prepared by Japan’s Defense Ministry to inform the public at home and abroad about the security environment, defense policies, key challenges and initiatives. It is compiled over roughly a year by ministry department staff, including civilians and members of the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces.
The first edition of the Defense White Paper dates back to 1970, when it was published under the title “Defense of Japan” in 94 pages, after the idea had circulated within Japan’s Defense Agency for years amid hesitation over putting it into practice. The second edition was published 6 years later, after which the report began to be issued annually in Japanese and English from 1976.
The director-general of the Defense Agency at the time, Nakasone Yasuhiro, had described the Japanese people as “wary of war and associating the Self-Defense Forces with the former military institution,” amid the repercussions of World War II. But he pushed for the report’s publication based on his belief that “defending the homeland depends, above all, on the people’s understanding, active support and cooperation.”
The white paper’s format and publication methods evolved over time. It began being printed on A4 paper in 2000, and a summary of its key contents was added in 2003. In 2013, the ministry launched the first edition designed for mobile phones, then made an electronic version available while continuing to issue printed copies.
The origin of the term “white paper”
The term “white paper” refers to official reports issued by ministries and government agencies to inform the public about conditions within their areas of responsibility. The name is associated with a British practice of printing government reports submitted to Parliament with white covers. Japan published its first white paper in 1947.
