BEIJING / TOKYO, 9 January 2026 — China has sharply criticised Japan’s perceived shift toward nuclear capability ambitions under the leadership of right-leaning Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, saying Tokyo’s rhetoric and actions risk undermining regional stability and threatening global peace. The remarks come amid escalating diplomatic and economic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated Beijing’s objections on 8 January, citing a newly published research report by two Chinese think-tanks, the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association and the China Institute of Nuclear Industry Strategy, that alleges Japan’s right-wing forces have expanded their nuclear ambitions in recent years. The report warns that such developments could signal the resurgence of Japanese militarism and pose a “serious threat to world peace and stability”.
Beijing’s Warning On Nuclear Policy
At a routine press briefing, Mao said the report reveals “dangerous facts” about Japan’s capacity to develop nuclear weapons relatively quickly, given its advanced nuclear fuel cycle infrastructure and stockpile of sensitive nuclear materials. The report also highlighted ambiguous comments by senior Japanese officials — including suggestions that Japan’s post-war three non-nuclear principles (not possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons) should be revisited, and signaled that nuclear-powered submarines should not be ruled out.
China is urging Tokyo to clarify its stance on nuclear weapons and reaffirm its commitment to international norms, particularly the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the three non-nuclear principles it has upheld since World War II. Beijing says any departure from these commitments would undermine the global non-proliferation regime and heighten regional anxieties.
Wider Diplomatic Strain
The accusation reflects growing unease in Beijing about Japan’s security posture following comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and other Tokyo officials that Japan could take a more assertive defence stance, including in scenarios involving China or Taiwan. These exchanges have already contributed to diplomatic friction, with China imposing export controls and other trade measures against Japan amid broader geopolitical disputes.
Tokyo has not publicly confirmed any change in its official nuclear policy, which for decades has formally rejected nuclear weapons development. Japan’s government maintains its commitment to the three non-nuclear principles, even as it pursues expanded defence capabilities and deepens security cooperation with allies. Analysts caution that Beijing’s accusations may also be part of a broader narrative aimed at pressuring Tokyo internationally and framing Japan’s defence shifts as destabilising.
Strategic Context In East Asia
The latest tensions occur against the backdrop of heightened China-Japan rivalry, including recent disputes over bilateral trade restrictions, dual-use export bans and contested maritime boundaries in the East China Sea. These issues have compounded mutual distrust and prompted both governments to step up diplomatic engagements while signalling determination to protect their strategic interests.
Observers say the controversy highlights deeper geostrategic fault-lines in East Asia, where historical memories, security alliances and great-power competition continue to shape regional defence postures. As China and Japan navigate this fraught environment, the rhetoric surrounding nuclear capability and militarism is likely to remain a potent flashpoint in their bilateral relationship.
