China Protests Japan's Defense White Paper, Citing False Narratives and Interference

On Wednesday, Liu Jinsong, the director-general of the Asian Affairs Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, conveyed strong objections to Yokochi Akira, the chief minister of the Japanese Embassy in China. The subject of the protest was the inaccurate and critical statements concerning China contained within Japan's newly released defense white paper.

The Chinese response specifically addressed Japan's 2025 Defense of Japan pamphlet. This document labels China as an "unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge," accuses China of seeking to alter the status quo through force, and includes inappropriate comments regarding the Taiwan question.

In response, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin stated that Japan was fabricating false narratives and exaggerating the "China threat" to justify its military expansion. He further accused Japan of blatant interference in China's internal affairs. China expressed its strong disapproval and opposition to these actions, having already lodged formal protests with Japan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian also addressed the issue at a press conference on Tuesday. He stated that Japan's latest defense white paper demonstrates a misrepresentation of China, interferes in China's internal affairs, and promotes the false narrative of a "China threat." Lin urged Japan to reflect on its past actions, learn from history, and cease using regional tensions and issues related to China as justification for its military buildup. He emphasized the need for Japan to avoid further eroding the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.