the Chinese army A spokesman accused Japan of “dangerously expanding” its defense sector – in capabilities, technology and international cooperation – and said it had “crossed a red line”.
In a rare full-page report on Monday, the PLA Daily claimed that Japan had an “amazing” stockpile of nuclear material and that it has the technology to develop nuclear weapons.
It said 44.4 tonnes of plutonium had already been separated by the end of 2024 – enough to make 5,500 nuclear warheads.
The report warned that once Japan fully withdraws from the restrictions of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles – that it will not possess, produce or permit the introduction of nuclear weapons – “it could become a reality with nuclear weapons in a very short time”.
It said Japan had worked “systematically” to develop its defense industry “under civilian technology” and that had laid the groundwork for “strategic changes in defense policy and launching its military and industrial capabilities”.
Tokyo allocated a record 17.5 billion yen (US$109.6 million) to its advanced technology transition research program in 2025 – 18 times the 2022 level, aimed at converting civilian technology for military use, according to the report.
