Japan Warns of Growing Regional Threats in Defense White Paper

Japan's 2025 Defense White Paper paints a dire security environment, describing the world as facing its greatest challenge since World War II, and identifies China, Russia, and North Korea as primary regional threats while cautiously avoiding direct criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump's unpredictable policies. The strained U.S.-Japan relationship was highlighted by Trump's unexpected announcement of a 25 percent tariff on Japanese goods, which shocked Tokyo and provoked strong condemnation from Japanese officials, deepening unease about Washington's reliability as an ally. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim emphasized that Taiwan seeks to maintain peace and stability without provoking conflict with China, criticizing Beijing's aggressive military posturing as counterproductive to regional growth and prosperity. From Beijing's perspective, Japan's defense buildup and rhetoric, as reflected in its white paper, are viewed as exaggerations designed to justify military expansion and interfere in China's internal affairs, particularly regarding Taiwan. The contrasting narratives underscore the fragile security dynamics in East Asia, with Japan caught between managing its alliance with the U.S. and regional tensions involving China and Taiwan.