China sounds alarm over resurgence of Japan's military-industrial complex

China has expressed serious concern over the resurgence of Japan's military-industrial complex, calling it another major warning sign that Tokyo is accelerating its "remilitarization" and warning against a return to the path of militarist expansion.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to reports that the value of orders placed by Japan's Defense Ministry had tripled over the past five years, accounting for half of all government public-sector demand orders in fiscal 2025. The reported increase was driven in part by growing orders for weapons and equipment, including surface-to-air missiles and aircraft.

"We are closely following the relevant reports," Mao said on Friday.

"The reactivation and rapid rise of Japan's military-industrial complex is another major development in Japan's accelerated 'remilitarization', and has caused widespread concern, both within Japan and in the international community."

Mao noted that Japan's military-industrial complex had once served as an important driving force and economic foundation for the country's descent into militarist aggression and expansionism.

It was precisely because of such historical lessons that a series of documents with full force under international law, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, explicitly stipulated that Japan be completely disarmed and prohibited from maintaining industries that could enable it to rearm, she said.

However, the Japanese government is now continuously easing restrictions on and channeling resources into its defense industry through increased fiscal spending, institutional support and the lifting of arms export restrictions, Mao said.

Senior Japanese government officials have also vigorously promoted weapons and military equipment internationally in an attempt to turn the defense industry into a pillar of the national economy, she said, adding that such moves run counter to Japan's self-proclaimed image as a "peaceful nation".

"Government budgets that should have been used to improve people's livelihoods are being spent on military orders, and production lines that should have made household appliances are now producing lethal weapons," Mao said.

"Does Japan intend to repeat the mistakes of history and once again follow the old path of militarist expansion?" she asked.

"All peace-loving people around the world, including the Japanese people, should remain highly vigilant."