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China warns Japan over expanding offensive drone capabilities
China’s PLA Daily cited Japan’s plan to invest 1 trillion yen, or about US$6.2 billion, in uncrewed systems from 2023 to 2027 under its 2022 Defence Build-up Programme.
China’s military mouthpiece, PLA Daily, dedicated a full-page warning on Monday to what it described as Japan’s expanding offensive drone capabilities, saying the move threatens regional peace and security.
The outlet said right-wing political forces in Japan have sought to work around Tokyo’s post-World War II constitutional ban on offensive combat capabilities, pointing to uncrewed platforms as a way to develop military capacity despite the restriction.
PLA Daily also argued Japan is pursuing “asymmetric advantages” by leaning on unmanned combat systems, and said Tokyo’s 2022 national security documents identified unmanned defense capabilities as a priority to support Japan’s counterstrike ability.
According to the article, Japan’s 2022 Defence Build-up Programme calls for 1 trillion yen, about US$6.2 billion, in investment in uncrewed systems over the five-year period beginning in 2023.