The Chinese Ministry of National Defense has issued a strong response to Japan’s White Paper released on July 28. They particularly cite the White Paper’s reference to China’s external stance and military activities as a “serious concern for Japan and the international community and presented an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge.” They also point to Japan’s claim that it faces “the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II,” which is serving as justification for a major militarization policy. The White Paper accuses China of “amplifying its unilateral changes to the status quo by force and such attempts in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.” (https://www.mod.go.jp/en/publ/w_paper/wp2023/DOJ2023_Digest_EN.pdf )