Japan Flags China’s Expanding Military as Indo-Pacific Challenge

Japan's 2025 defense report highlights China's rapid military expansion and cooperation with Russia as significant threats, emphasizing heightened security concerns over Taiwan, North Korea, and broader Indo-Pacific tensions. China has increased its operational military capabilities, including over 1,200 aircraft carrier landings and takeoffs in the Pacific last year, and conducted simultaneous operations with two carriers, raising serious concerns for Japan's security. Beijing is also expanding its military and economic influence beyond the South China Sea into the Southwest Pacific and Oceania, challenging Western dominance and prompting regional countries to bolster their defense capacities. In parallel, China announced its first-ever joint military training with Serbia, reflecting an expanding global military cooperation network that includes Russia's allies, which has drawn scrutiny from the United States. Additionally, China is enhancing its legal tools to counteract U.S. and allied trade and technology sanctions, aligning with President Xi Jinping's emphasis on law-based governance to protect national interests amid growing international pressures. These developments collectively underscore a shifting balance of power and an increasingly complex and severe security environment in the Indo-Pacific region.