Japan lodges protest after Beijing accuses it of “reviving militarism”

Monday 16 February 2026 - 09:30

By: Sahili Aya

Japan lodges protest after Beijing accuses it of “reviving militarism”

Japan has formally protested to China after senior Chinese officials accused Tokyo of encouraging a return to militarism, deepening tensions between the two Asian powers at a time of heightened regional uncertainty.

The dispute escalated following remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the Munich Security Conference. Speaking at the international gathering, Wang criticized what he described as “right-wing forces” in Japan and warned against what he portrayed as attempts to revive militarist tendencies from the country’s past.

Tokyo swiftly rejected the accusations. In a public statement, Japan’s Foreign Ministry described the comments as factually incorrect and unfounded. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reiterated Japan’s position on the sidelines of the Munich conference and confirmed that diplomatic channels had been used to convey Tokyo’s strong objections to Beijing.

The diplomatic friction follows recent statements by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who indicated that Japan could consider military involvement in the event of an attack on Taiwan. The island, which Beijing claims as part of its territory, remains one of the most sensitive flashpoints in East Asia.

In recent years, Japan has pledged to significantly increase defense spending, citing a rapidly evolving security environment that includes North Korea’s missile activities and China’s growing military capabilities. Tokyo aims to raise defense expenditure to 2 percent of its gross domestic product, aligning more closely with NATO standards. Japanese officials insist these measures are defensive in nature and not directed at any specific country.

China, however, has expressed concern over Japan’s military expansion, invoking historical memories of Japanese aggression in Asia during the 20th century. The exchange underscores the fragile state of Sino-Japanese relations, already strained by territorial disputes and strategic rivalry in the Asia-Pacific region.

As geopolitical competition intensifies, analysts warn that rhetoric on both sides could further complicate efforts to stabilize ties between two of Asia’s largest economies.