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.
