Japan published its 2026 defense white paper on Tuesday, with Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi urging a military buildup driven by "a sense of urgency and crisis" as the document catalogued intensifying threats from China, North Korea and Russia. The record-length 598-page report dedicates a new chapter to dual-use technologies and AI-driven operational data processing.
The government simultaneously released short promotional videos in Japanese, English and Chinese, illustrating how drone warfare is reshaping combat and outlining a new "Shield" concept that integrates mass drone deployments into Japan's defense posture. The white paper maintains that Beijing's actions remain a "serious cause for concern," citing Chinese aircraft carrier sorties in the Pacific and dangerous aerial encounters, while labeling North Korea an even more grave and pressing threat.
Japanese fighter jets scrambled 595 times in the year through March 2026, mostly against Chinese aircraft. Koizumi noted he has discussed alliance cooperation with U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth and partners including the Philippines, Australia and South Korea.