China has strongly criticised Japan’s approval of a record defence budget exceeding 9 trillion yen for the fiscal year 2026, warning that Tokyo is accelerating military expansion and deviating from its pacifist path. Beijing said Japan’s push for counterstrike capabilities, missile deployment, and cybersecurity countermeasures exposes “sinister intentions” to revive militarism, raising alarm across Asia and the international community. China also backed calls to uphold the post–World War II order and cautioned that any actions harming China’s sovereignty or security would face a resolute response.
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