Japan Voices Alarm Over China’s Rising Defense Budget and Military Expansion

Japan’s cabinet secretary general, Hirokazu Matsuno, voiced a clear and growing concern from Tokyo over China’s strategy to expand its defense spending and broaden its military footprint in the region. He underscored that Beijing’s drive to strengthen its armed forces is happening with limited transparency and appears to be accelerating, a combination that raises questions for Tokyo, its allies, and partners across the Indo-Pacific. This stance reflects a wider apprehension in Washington and allied capitals about the trajectory of China’s military modernization, as reported by state media and subsequent commentary from Japan’s government circles. Matsuno highlighted that these moves are not isolated actions but part of a broader pattern that could have lasting implications for regional stability, alliance dynamics, and international norms around defense spending and military transparency. The remarks were made against the backdrop of ongoing regional security debates and about the need for a coordinated response among like-minded nations to ensure predictable and lawful behavior in disputed waters and airspaces. The message to Beijing is straightforward: increases in defense capacity must be matched with openness, dialogue, and adherence to international rules to prevent misperception and miscalculation that could destabilize the region. (citation: official Japanese government statements via TASS and national media).