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.
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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."
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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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