China Warns Japan’s ‘New Militarism’ a Source of Instability in East Asia
China’s Ministry of Defense has issued a stark warning against what it describes as Japan’s “new militarism,” accusing Tokyo’s right-wing forces of becoming a source of instability in East Asia. The warning comes as Japanese Prime Minister Takachi Sanae faces a widening “smear gate” scandal involving allegations that her campaign team used AI-generated videos to attack political rivals.
Defense Ministry Warning
Speaking at a regular press conference on May 28, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Defense, responded to questions about recent US-Japan joint military exercises in the Southwest Islands, approximately 110 kilometers from Taiwan. According to The Paper, Jiang Bin warned that Japan’s right-wing forces are “dangerously and aggressively advancing” in military security, and their “new militarism” is becoming a “source of trouble and chaos” in East Asia.
“All peace-loving people should not allow Japan’s retrogressive actions to destroy peace and wreak havoc in the world,” Jiang Bin said, calling on the international community to remain vigilant.
The remarks follow earlier warnings from China’s Foreign Ministry. On April 30, spokesperson Lin Jian stated that Japan’s “new militarism” had become a “real threat to world peace and stability,” as reported by CCTV News. The escalating rhetoric signals a hardening of Beijing’s position toward Tokyo’s military posture.
The ‘Smear Gate’ Scandal
Separately, a political scandal in Tokyo is intensifying. Japanese media outlet Weekly Bunshun has alleged that Prime Minister Takachi Sanae’s campaign team hired video producers to create AI-generated smear videos targeting political opponents. According to Bastille Post, Takachi’s secretary and close aide of over 20 years, Kino Kōshi, is identified as the central figure, allegedly contacting video producer Matsui Ken via SMS, Signal, and Line messaging apps.
Weekly Bunshun claims to have documented 67 pieces of evidence, including chat records. The scale of the operation was substantial, with reports indicating up to 100-200 AI-generated videos were produced per day. During the 2025 LDP presidential election, approximately 70% of the videos targeted Koizumi Shinjiro, while 10% targeted Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa. The remaining 20% were pro-Takachi content. In the February 2026 House of Representatives election, opposition candidates including Edano Yukio, Mabuchi Sumio, Okada Katsuya, and Azumi Jun were allegedly targeted.
Takachi has denied the allegations, stating that she and her team “completely did not do this” and that she trusts her secretary’s denial. However, former LDP member Ozawa Ichiro has stated that if the reports are true and Takachi knew or participated, she should resign.
Broader Context of Tensions
The developments unfold against a backdrop of significantly elevated China-Japan tensions. Takachi’s controversial “Taiwan contingency” remarks in November 2025 triggered severe backlash from Beijing. Since December 2025, China has reportedly halted rare earth exports to Japan, cutting off supplies of dysprosium, terbium, and gallium critical for semiconductors, magnets, and defense industries. China has also imposed export controls on dual-use items to Japanese companies including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Japan’s military expansion has further fueled Chinese concerns. Tokyo has been increasing its defense budget, acquiring offensive capabilities including long-range missiles, and pushing for revision of Article 9 of Japan’s constitution, which renounces war. Plans to restore WWII-era military ranks such as “General” and “Colonel” have drawn particular criticism from Beijing, which views these moves as a return to militarism.
Analysis and Implications
The simultaneous application of diplomatic pressure through the “new militarism” narrative and economic pressure through rare earth restrictions represents a dual-track strategy by Beijing. The smear scandal, meanwhile, threatens to undermine Takachi’s political legitimacy domestically, potentially weakening her ability to pursue her security agenda.
For Japan, the rare earth restrictions pose a significant economic challenge. While Tokyo has sought to diversify supply chains since China’s 2010 export curbs, dependence on Chinese rare earths remains substantial. Australian producer Lynas Rare Earths, for example, produced only 8 tons of dysprosium and terbium in the first quarter of 2026, compared to the 14 tons China exported monthly to Japan in 2024.
What to Watch
Key questions remain: Will Weekly Bunshun release the full 67 pieces of evidence, and will it lead to formal investigations? Can Takachi survive the scandal, or will it trigger a political crisis in Japan? And as 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trials, China’s historical framing of Japan’s military policy is likely to intensify, potentially strengthening regional solidarity against Tokyo while increasing the risk of miscalculation in the Taiwan Strait.