Japan’s defense minister, Minoru Kihara, on Wednesday publicly dismissed Beijing’s claim that Tokyo is pursuing a “new militarism,” accusing China instead of waging a “dangerous” military expansion drive with little transparency. Speaking at a rare press conference in Tokyo, Kihara called China’s arsenal—now the world’s largest navy and a rapidly growing nuclear stockpile—“a direct threat to peace and security in East Asia.” His remarks came just 48 hours before he is set to join counterparts from the United States, South Korea, and Australia for a trilateral security forum in Seoul.

The defense minister’s rebuttal marks the sharpest public clash since bilateral relations plummeted over disputed islands in the East China Sea and Beijing’s ongoing military drills near Taiwan. Kihara, who was appointed last August after a career in maritime security, has made countering China’s regional dominance a cornerstone of his tenure. Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have been placed on higher alert, with naval patrols near the Senkaku Islands increasing by 35% this year alone.

During the briefing, Kihara also revealed that Japan is accelerating plans to deploy long-range strike missiles capable of reaching targets deep inside China, including coastal bases. The move reverses decades of post-war defense policy and is expected to be formalized in next month’s National Defense Strategy update. “We are not militarizing,” Kihara said. “We are ensuring deterrence in an era of coercive diplomacy.” His comments were echoed by U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who warned in a separate statement that China’s military growth “outpaces any responsible interpretation of strategic stability.”

Analysts say the escalation reflects a broader shift in Asian geopolitics, where Japan is shedding its pacifist constitution in favor of proactive deterrence. “This is not just about countering China,” said Dr. Aiko Tanaka, a security expert at Waseda University. “It’s about signaling to Washington that Tokyo is ready to play a larger role in containing Beijing’s ambitions.” The upcoming Seoul summit will test whether the four nations can coordinate a unified response, especially on Taiwan contingency planning.

Kihara’s tour of key military facilities in Okinawa and Kyushu this week underscores the government’s urgency. In a closed-door session with lawmakers, he warned that China’s military budget could surpass Japan’s entire GDP by 2027 if current trends continue. “We face a window of opportunity to act before the balance shifts irreversibly,” he told legislators. The defense strategy update, expected by late October, is expected to include proposals for doubling defense spending to 2% of GDP—tripling Japan’s military investment in five years.

Security analysts warn that the rhetoric could spiral into a dangerous tit-for-tat, especially as both nations conduct overlapping naval drills. The U.S., meanwhile, has urged restraint but continues to enhance its own Pacific presence. Rear Admiral Brett Heimbigner, commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, confirmed last night that two carrier strike groups are now operating in the Philippine Sea—within striking distance of both the Taiwan Strait and the Senkakus. “The tempo has never been higher,” Heimbigner told reporters in Guam. “And it’s showing no signs of slowing down.”