China warns of rising Japanese militarism amid defense budget hikes

On the 81st anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender, concerns have been raised regarding the resurgence of Japanese militarism. Historical documents, specifically “military mail” consisting of letters sent by Japanese soldiers from the Chinese battlefield to Japan, have resurfaced. These letters, recovered by scholar Li Suzhen, provide firsthand accounts of atrocities, including the execution of prisoners and the destruction of civilian homes during the invasion of China and the Nanjing Massacre.

Concurrently, China's Ministry of National Defense has issued a warning against what it terms “new-type militarism” in Japan. Spokesperson Chen Xi criticized the Japanese government for distorting historical facts and expanding its military capabilities. The Ministry highlighted Japan's proposed FY2027 defense budget of approximately 8.9 trillion yen as a record high, arguing that Japan is using perceived external threats to bypass the “Peace Constitution” and challenge the post-war international order.