Asia Defense | Security | East Asia

Japan’s 2026 Defense White Paper Warns of China’s Expanding Military Reach in the Pacific

This year’s white paper places particular emphasis on Beijing’s growing ability to project military power beyond the First Island Chain.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s second Izumo-class helicopter carrier Kaga, whose bow has been modified to a rectangular shape to enable operations of the stealth F-35B fighter.

On August 4, Japan’s Cabinet approved the 2026 edition of its annual defense white paper, warning that China is steadily expanding its military reach into the Pacific beyond the First Island Chain, the strategic arc linking Japan’s southwestern islands, Taiwan, and the Philippines. 

The report, Defense of Japan 2026, again described China as “an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge” to Japan’s peace and security, repeating language first adopted in Japan’s revised National Security Strategy in 2022. This year’s white paper placed particular emphasis on China’s expanding military activities in the Pacific, highlighting what Tokyo views as Beijing’s growing ability to project military power beyond the so-called First Island Chain and increasingly deeper into the Pacific.

The report argued that these challenges should be addressed by strengthening Japan’s “comprehensive national power,” together with closer cooperation with allies and like-minded partners. It also emphasized lessons from modern warfare and the need to reinforce Japan’s defense industrial base.

The white paper said that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has become increasingly active around Japan in the East China Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the western Pacific beyond the First Island Chain.

According to the report, these operations are intended not only to improve the PLA’s combat capabilities but also to create a “fait accompli” by establishing a regular military presence in the area.

“Repeated joint activities are obviously intended as demonstration activities against Japan and pose a grave concern for Japan’s security,” the report stated.

A newly added graphic section highlighted China’s expanding military activities in the Pacific, including aircraft carrier deployments, long-range naval operations, and other activities beyond the First Island Chain.

It cited the deployment of the aircraft carrier Liaoning east of Iwo Jima in June 2025 and subsequent carrier operations in the Pacific – including its first confirmed operations beyond the Second Island Chain, which stretches from Japan’s Izu and Ogasawara islands to Guam and Saipan – underscoring what Tokyo sees as China’s growing ability to sustain naval and air operations farther from its coastline.

The report also referred to an incident in which a Chinese military aircraft repeatedly targeted a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol aircraft with a laser for about 30 minutes over the Pacific east of Okinawa.

Taiwan also featured prominently. The white paper noted that China has repeatedly conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan since 2022. The report argued that the exercises are intended both........

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