Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the country must strengthen and modernize its military capabilities more rapidly in response to growing security risks from China, North Korea and Russia. Writing in the introduction to Japan’s annual defense white paper released Tuesday, he said the effort was more urgent and critical than at any previous time.

The white paper said Chinese military activity around Japan has expanded beyond the so-called first island chain to the second island chain. It cited Chinese aircraft carrier operations in 2025 and two incidents in June and July when Chinese military aircraft came very close to Japanese aircraft. In the year through March 31, 2026, Japanese fighter jets conducted 595 emergency scrambles, including 366 in response to Chinese aircraft and 214 to Russian aircraft movements.

Japan has increased defense spending, expanded security cooperation in Asia, deployed missiles on remote islands, pursued counterstrike capability and eased arms-export rules. The paper warned that limitations in the defense production sector could hinder future weapons procurement and technological innovation. Koizumi also cited stronger cooperation with the United States, the Philippines, Australia and South Korea, while China voiced concern over Japan’s military preparations.