The Japanese government has published its first defense white paper since the launch of the Sanae Takaichi cabinet, laying bare strong a sense of crisis and vigilance toward the deepening alignment among North Korea, China, and Russia.

Diagnosing that East Asia's security environment is facing its greatest test since the end of World War II, Japan emphasized strengthening deterrence through solidarity with allied nations.

...

In its white paper, Japan spotlighted the growing military cooperation among North Korea, China, and Russia, assessing that "the international society has entered a new era of crisis as it faces the greatest trials since the postwar period."

In particular, it expressed strong concern over deteriorating conditions, stating that "a serious situation akin to the invasion of Ukraine could occur in East Asia."

...

The front section of the white paper featured photos of the summit meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as a large-scale military parade featuring Chinese President Xi Jinping, warning against the expansion of military influence by nations that do not share democratic values and systems.

Regarding China's military trends, the white paper defined them as the "greatest strategic challenge ever seen," following last year's assessment, and cited military pressure on Taiwan and intensified maritime activities around the Senkaku Islands as threats.

As for North Korea, it described the country as posing a "more grave and imminent threat to Japan's security than ever before," raising risks that North Korea's military capabilities could be reinforced in the mid-to-long term through military cooperation with Russia, such as troop deployments to Ukraine.

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[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think Japan (and all its partner countries in the Indo-Pacific and beyond) understand very well the danger coming from these three state actors.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Japan is clearly turning to empowering the people in its society that think the same way as the leaders of those antagonistic countries do... which leads me to believe that Japan does not in fact understand the danger coming from every direction including from within...

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

China's military build-up over the last three decades - the larges in history during peace time - and its war games in the region are well-documented. Some of its diplomats even openly threatening officials and citizens of foreign countries.

China and North Korea are also heavily supporting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

Don't know why you distract from these simple facts.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I am not distracting from them, I am pointing out conservative idiots in Japan are turning to the same kinds of idiots who have made China, North Korea and Russia so dangerous.

To put it another way, Japan is doing precisely what "they" want Japan to do, which is embracing a culture of conservative strength that is xenophobic and completely divorced from the exhaustively established reality that everything conservatives obsessed with war do makes the people they are "protecting" far less safe.

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

... xenophobic and completely divorced from the reality ...

What exactly do you mean? The threats are very real, and they come from China and its 'allies' in the first place.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Can you stop hyperfocusing on that? I am not saying Japan shouldn't take a sober look at defense and focus on rationally deterring Chinese military power with intelligent buildup of military capability, I am saying handing power to conservative ideologies will make Japan radically less safe and more vulnerable to attack no matter how much Japan appears to be strengthing itself in the process, it will end up hastening whatever nightmare the conservatives in charge point to as a rationalization for closing down the vibrancy of society.

Not only are conservatives obsessed with war for the aesthetics of it, for the way it makes them feel, and thus they are uninterested in learning the professional parts of it (a distastrous choice in modern war), conservatives are also as a rule incompetent as hell.

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 0 points 2 weeks ago

Can you stop hyperfocusing on that?

I am not 'hyperfocusing.' The topic here is the threat that posed by China, Russia, NK. They are a threat not just to Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific region, but to the entire world. We see that now as China, through its decisive support for Russia, is a threat to Ukraine and, therefore, Europe. And the same could happen in Asia, which is what this article is about.I am fully on topic.

Don't know why you bring up 'conservatives' Japan, the threat comes from somewhere else.