China News Service, October 23rd. On October 21st, Sanae Takaichi served as Prime Minister of Japan for one year. One year after taking office, Gao Shi continued to increase his efforts in the security field and stepped on the accelerator on the dangerous road of "new militarism."
Recently, Chen Xi, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, made the latest statement on Japan's military expansion, pointing out that Japan's "new militarism", a gray rhinoceros, is mutating out of control and accelerating, becoming a prominent factor that challenges the post-war international order, impacts the international nuclear non-proliferation system, and threatens regional peace and stability.
"Gray rhino" is often used to refer to potential crises with high probability and huge impact. Huge risks are right in front of us, but they are often ignored by people. This metaphor for the current situation of Japan's "new militarism" is extremely appropriate.
As a defeated country in World War II, Japan has the legal obligation to completely eradicate the remnants of militarism, completely destroy its ability to wage war, and strictly prohibit the development of re-arming. However, over the years, Japan's right-wing forces have never given up pursuing military expansion and have gradually loosened military restrictions.
Since Sanae Takaichi came to power, the pace of Japan's military expansion has accelerated significantly. Recently, in his policy speech at the Extraordinary Diet, Takaichi Sanae used the severe security environment in the surrounding area as an excuse to announce the revision of the "Three Security Documents" before the end of the year, seeking to fundamentally strengthen defense capabilities. This move has broken through the "exclusive defense" principle stipulated in the "Peace Constitution". The "Three Security Documents" that were only adopted in 2022 have been planned and adjusted again in just four years. The eagerness of Japan's right-wing forces to pursue military expansion is clearly revealed.
Japan has strong industrial and technological strength, and its military expenditure ranks among the top in the world, but it continues to shape the "victim" narrative to find excuses for the rise of militarism. Various measures taken by the Gao City Government after taking office have continued to trample on the hard-won peace after the war. What is particularly dangerous is that this time the Japanese government plans to include relevant content on the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines in the revision of the "Three Security Documents". This strategy of pursuing gradual nuclear loosening is to gradually eliminate the binding force of the "Three Non-nuclear Principles" and push nuclear capabilities from a taboo to a reality, thus posing major hidden dangers to peace in the Asia-Pacific region and even the world.
2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trial. Looking back at history, it is even more important to recognize the huge risks hidden in Japan's "new militarism", which will not disappear by turning a blind eye. Japan should face up to its status as a defeated country, deeply reflect on its war crimes, and stop dangerous actions such as amending the constitution, expanding its military, and plotting to acquire nuclear weapons. The international community must maintain a high degree of vigilance, guard the bottom line of the post-war international order, and must not allow this "grey rhinoceros" to collide wantonly.
