China accused of targeting Japanese jets in ‘deeply concerning’ incident
Independent1 day
Chinese Jets Lock Radar on Japanese Fighters Near Okinawa
Is Japan's Taiwan stance dangerous militarism threatening peace, or responsible defense against Chinese aggression?
Above: Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Dec. 7, 2025. Image credit: Japan Pool/Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
Takaichi's dangerous rhetoric linking Taiwan to Japan's survival threatens regional peace and violates decades of diplomatic commitments. Japan's military expansion, increased defense spending, and revival of militaristic terminology signal a concerning drift toward aggression that destabilizes East Asia. Historical tragedies must not recur as Tokyo abandons lessons of defeat.
Anti-China narrative
China's radar lock-up marks calculated hostility testing Japan's limits through gray zone warfare tactics. Beijing's economic coercion, cultural cancellations, and territorial revisionism reveal anxieties about losing regional control. Takaichi's acknowledgment that Taiwan Strait stability affects Japanese survival isn't militarism but responsible governance protecting vital sea lanes.