Japan Defense Minister Calls for Military Buildup Amid Threats from China, Russia, North Korea

Japan's Defense Minister, Koizumi Shinjiro, has called for a significant strengthening of the nation's military capabilities, emphasizing the need for "urgency and a sense of crisis." This call comes amid a new government assessment that underscores the escalating risks posed by China, North Korea, and Russia. The report highlights the growing military activities of these nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to the defense white paper, China has been intensifying its military presence around Japan, extending its operational range beyond the first island chain to the second. The paper details incidents such as Chinese aircraft carrier activities and close encounters between Chinese and Japanese aircraft in June and July. In the year leading up to March 31, 2026, Japanese fighter jets scrambled 595 times, with a significant portion targeting Chinese and Russian aircraft, though the overall number of scrambles decreased from the previous year.

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Japan must maintain a stronger sense of urgency and crisis awareness than ever before and further strengthen and transform its defense capabilities.

In response to the increasingly severe security environment, Japan is bolstering its defense spending and enhancing its security cooperation with regional partners. This includes deploying missile launchers to its outer islands, developing "counter-strike" capabilities, and easing restrictions on arms exports. Minister Koizumi stressed that strengthening the region's crisis response capabilities is a top priority.

Japan is actively deepening security ties with the Philippines, Australia, and South Korea to promote a "free and open Indo-Pacific." Minister Koizumi also reported having a "frank exchange of views" with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin regarding the "unwavering" U.S.-Japan alliance, underscoring the commitment to collective security in the face of regional challenges.

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As the security environment becomes increasingly severe, the top priority is to strengthen the crisis response capabilities of the entire Indo-Pacific region.