Japan hypes excuse for its military build-up

In recent years, Japan has developed a penchant for pointing an accusing finger at China each time it releases its annual defense white paper. This year is no exception. By repeatedly playing this trick, Tokyo not only aims to peddle a misleading narrative about China, but also intends to justify its own military ambitions.

Its latest defense white paper, which was released on Tuesday, reflects its wrong perception of China and plays the outdated tune of the "China threat" fallacy. Citing the Chinese military's activities in areas surrounding Japan, it falsely claims that China's military activities could "seriously impact" Japan's security.

Such accusations are totally unfounded and immediately drew strong protests from China. As a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated, China is committed to peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. China's defense development and military activities are legitimate and justified, and brook no unwarranted accusation. Japan should reflect on how its actions have contributed to tensions in the region, prompting the Chinese military to step up its vigilance and response preparedness. In recent years, Japan has repeatedly exploited the tensions it has created over China's Diaoyu Islands as a means to justify its militarization.