China's defense ministry has expressed concern over Japan's development of long-range missiles for submarine drones and planned hypersonic weapon testing in Australia.
Key facts
- •China's defense ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang described Japan's military initiatives as "dangerous."
- •Zhang compared the current military expansion to Japan's pre-World War II militarization.
- •The first island chain includes Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Borneo.
- •Japan's 2022 security strategy allows for counterstrikes against military targets following an armed attack.
China's defense ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang publicly criticized Japan's military expansion on Thursday. The ministry specifically highlighted Japan's initiatives to arm submarine drones with long-range missiles and conduct hypersonic weapon tests in Australia.
Impact on regional security
Analysts suggest these weapon developments could pose a threat to People’s Liberation Army amphibious groups and surface combatants operating within the "first island chain." This region, which spans from Japan to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Borneo, is considered strategically important for the PLA Navy's operations, particularly in the event of a conflict involving Taiwan.
Japan's military strategy
Japan has been increasing its long-range strike capabilities since the adoption of a "counterstrike capability" in its 2022 security strategy. Under this policy, Japan maintains that it could strike military targets within an adversary's territory for self-defense following an armed attack, though the policy prohibits pre-emptive strikes.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by South China Morning Post.
