Some hardline opinions are being raised within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that China's military threat should be explicitly stated in the three security documents—the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Force Development Plan—which the Japanese cabinet led by Sanae Takaichi plans to revise within the year, local media reported.

According to Jiji Press on the 11th, at a recent LDP Security Survey Council meeting, opinions were voiced that the geopolitical situation has worsened compared to the past, and the same phrasing regarding China would no longer be appropriate, considering China's military buildup, maritime expansion, and strengthening strategic alliances with neighboring countries like North Korea and Russia.

The LDP had previously requested the government to describe China's military movements as a "significant threat to security" when the cabinet of Fumio Kishida revised the three security documents at the end of 2022.

However, when the Komeito party, which was part of the coalition cabinet at the time, expressed reservations, the wording was softened to "matters of serious concern" and "the greatest strategic challenge unprecedented to date."

As opinions to refer to China as a "threatening nation" were recently raised again at the LDP Security Survey Council, another party official expressed a cautious view, stating, "If we deliberately use the word 'threat,' it will only provoke China."

The Japanese government's official stance is to maintain a "constructive and stable relationship based on strategic reciprocal relations" with China.

A Japanese government official told Jiji Press, "There is no benefit in writing 'threat' regarding China," and predicted that the focus going forward will be on how the LDP responds when the Japan Innovation Party, which forms part of the ruling coalition, pushes for a hardline approach.

The LDP and the Japan Innovation Party are currently working on summarizing the points for revising the three security documents and are reportedly planning to finalize proposals to be submitted to the government by early next month.

The level of phrasing the Japanese government uses towards China is also expected to be influenced by the outcome of the summit meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, who will pay a state visit to China from the 13th to the 15th, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi [File Photo, AP·AFP=Yonhap News]