Asahi Shimbun reports the draft 2026 defense white paper largely repeats 2025 language, saying the international community has entered a "new era of crisis" and the "Indo-Pacific security environment is increasingly severe," and continues to portray a "China threat." The draft links defense production and the technological base directly to defense capability and urges deploying the same equipment as allies and "like-minded" countries to build a "mutual-support environment." It adds a new "new fo

Asahi Shimbun reports the draft 2026 defense white paper largely repeats 2025 language, saying the international community has entered a "new era of crisis" and the "Indo-Pacific security environment is increasingly severe," and continues to portray a "China threat." The draft links defense production and the technological base directly to defense capability and urges deploying the same equipment as allies and "like-minded" countries to build a "mutual-support environment." It adds a new "new forms of warfare" section calling for greater use of drones and artificial intelligence in defense and, citing Ukraine, stresses the need to strengthen long-duration operational capability. Japanese commentary warns the government's security-driven policy shift could heighten military tensions and expand war risk.