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Japan's accelerating military deployment a manifestation of its strategic shift, Chinese experts say

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun, Liang Rui and Guo Yuandan Published: Nov 16, 2025 05:38 PM

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent wrong remarks on China's Taiwan region have triggered a renewed round of alert from Chinese media and experts on Japan's military expansion that breaks away from the country's pacifist constitution, including Japan's consideration of adding nuclear-powered submarines, refitting aircraft carriers to carry stealth fighter jets, and developing long-range missiles.

An article published in the PLA Daily on Sunday titled "Hyping military intervention in the Taiwan Straits situation will only lead Japan down a path of no return" noted that since Japan's "three new strategic documents" were passed in 2022, which have substantially altered Japan's pacifist constitution that does not permit the possession of offensive weapons, Japan has been simultaneously developing or deploying more than 10 types of anti-ship and land-attack missiles with ranges of up to 3,000 kilometers, renovating military infrastructure nationwide, and stockpiling large quantities of ammunition.

In August, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) deployed F-35B stealth fighter jets to the Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture for the first time, marking the first time since World War II that Japan has possessed carrier-based fighter jets. The fighters are expected to be deployed aboard the Kaga and Izumo, two Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers currently being converted into aircraft carriers, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

In addition, Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported on November 7 that the Japanese defense minister claimed on November 6 that Japan "must consider adding nuclear-powered submarines to its fleet."

Chinese experts noted that Japan's military equipment developments could greatly enhancing its surprise attack and assault capabilities, which undoubtedly have a negative impact on regional peace and stability.

Summarizing up some of Japan's military expansion activities, chinanews.com quoted multiple experts as saying that Japan's accelerating military deployment is the most direct manifestation of its strategic shift.

Military affairs expert Chen Hu said in the report that Japan is adept at masking fundamental changes through incremental and ambiguous approaches. Takaichi's provocative remarks signal that Japan's military strategy is brewing a new qualitative transformation.

The PLA Daily article said, the recent provocative remarks made by Takaichi have confirmed Japan's clear intent to engage in large-scale military expansion in violation of its pacifist constitution, thereby exposing the falsehoods previously propagated by the Japanese government.

Should Japan militarily intervene in the Taiwan Straits situation, both its people and the nation itself will face catastrophic consequences due to the government's extremely perilous and misguided decision, the PLA Daily article said, noting that there is a risk that the entire Japan could become battlefield.

In a separate event, the China Coast Guard (CCG) formation 1307 on Sunday conducted a patrol in the territorial waters of China's Diaoyu Islands. This is a rights-safeguarding patrol activity carried out by the CCG in accordance with the law, the CCG said in a statement.

A scholar specializing in Japan's military development suggests that China should continuously enhance its military deterrence, regularly conduct military exercises around Taiwan, and accelerate the deployment of advanced equipment such as aircraft carriers, stealth fighter jets, and DF series missiles to deter any external interfering forces from a position of strength, according to the chinanews.com report.

Wang Ya'nan, another Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Sunday that Japan's current right-wing sentiment is very dangerous. China can consider displaying its capabilities as countermeasures when necessary, including conducting patrols and exercises.

When asked to comment about reports that Takaichi recently claimed that if the Chinese mainland uses military vessels and other forces against Taiwan, it would cause a situation threatening Japan's survival, and the Japanese Self-defense Force could exercise the right of collective self-defense in accordance with law, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said on Friday that the erroneous remarks on Taiwan made by the Japanese leader constitute a gross interference in China's internal affairs, and a serious violation of the one-China principle, the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and the basic norms governing international relations.

The remarks have challenged the post-war international order, and sent very wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. Such words are egregious in nature and have caused very negative impact. They are extremely irresponsible and dangerous, said Jiang.

The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, which brooks no foreign interference. This year, we commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan. Should the Japanese side fail to draw lessons from history and dare to take a risk, or even use force to interfere in the Taiwan question, it will only suffer a complete failure before the steel-willed PLA and pay a heavy price, the spokesperson said.