China Warns Japan’s Remilitarization Is a Step Backward and Path of No Return

China’s Foreign Ministry has issued its strongest condemnation yet of Japan’s accelerating military expansion, warning that Tokyo’s “re-militarization” represents both “a step backward” and “a path of no return” while invoking the Imperial Japanese Army’s World War II-era Unit 731 atrocities. The statement, delivered on June 22 by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun at a regular press briefing in Beijing, marks a significant escalation in China’s rhetorical campaign against Japan’s most dramatic defense buildup since 1945.

Historical Condemnation

Guo’s remarks directly referenced Unit 731, the secret biological and chemical warfare research unit of the Imperial Japanese Army that conducted lethal experiments on living human subjects between 1937 and 1945. According to Xinhua News Agency, the official Chinese state news service, Guo stated that “the Japanese Imperial Army’s large-scale, inhumane and heinous live human experiments and biological warfare will forever be nailed to the pillar of shame in human history.”

The spokesperson urged Japan to “sincerely reflect on its war crimes of aggression, completely cut ties with militarism, and take concrete actions to earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.” The invocation of Unit 731 — whose scientists were granted immunity by the United States after the war in exchange for their research data — connects contemporary concerns about Japanese military policy to unresolved historical grievances.

Escalating Rhetoric

The June 22 statement represents a clear escalation from earlier Chinese warnings. On May 18, Guo had urged Japan to “stop surging forward on the path of remilitarization” in the context of Taiwan-related rhetoric, as reported by the Chinese Embassy in Laos. Just days before the latest statement, on June 16, Defense Ministry Spokesperson Chen Xi warned that Japan, as it accelerates its remilitarization, is “becoming a powder keg for the Asia-Pacific region,” according to the State Council Information Office.

Chen had specifically criticized Tokyo for framing China as “an unprecedented and greatest strategic challenge” while pursuing long-range strike capabilities, accusing Japan of peddling the “China military threat” narrative to justify its massive military buildup.

Japan’s Military Expansion

Japan is executing its most ambitious military expansion since World War II. In December 2022, the government adopted a new National Security Strategy committing to double defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027 — approximately ¥43 trillion ($290 billion) over five years. The cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi approved a record ¥9.04 trillion ($58 billion) defense budget for fiscal year 2026, marking the 12th consecutive year of increases, as detailed by Naval News.

Key elements of the buildup include the acquisition of US-supplied Tomahawk cruise missiles and JASSM-ER standoff weapons, deployment of medium- and long-range missiles, easing of restrictions on lethal weapons exports, and the conversion of Izumo-class helicopter carriers into aircraft carriers capable of operating F-35B fighter jets. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s June 2026 draft proposal seeks to revise Japan’s three key security documents, calling for unprecedented institutional support for the military industry, as reported by Global Times via GlobalSecurity.org.

Regional and Strategic Implications

China’s escalated rhetoric reflects several strategic calculations. Beijing views Japan’s military expansion as a direct challenge to its regional dominance, particularly as Tokyo acquires offensive strike capabilities. The Taiwan factor looms large — China suspects Japan’s buildup is linked to potential contingency planning regarding the Taiwan Strait, a red line for Beijing.

Japan, for its part, frames its defense buildup as a necessary response to China’s military modernization and assertiveness in the East China Sea and South China Sea, North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, and Russia’s military activities. Tokyo also faces pressure from Washington to assume a greater share of alliance burden-sharing within the US-Japan alliance system.

What’s Next

The diplomatic trajectory between Asia’s two largest economies appears headed for further deterioration. The June 22 statement, with its explicit reference to Unit 731, suggests Beijing is prepared to leverage historical grievances more aggressively to delegitimize Japan’s current policies. Analysts warn of potential consequences including increased military posturing in the East China Sea, a possible Asia-Pacific arms race as regional actors accelerate their own military modernization, and potential spillover into trade relations between the two economic giants.

No official response from Tokyo to the June 22 statement has been reported at the time of writing, but the exchange underscores the deepening strategic rivalry that will likely define Asia-Pacific security dynamics for years to come.