Russia and China raise alarms over Japan's nuclear potential

Russia and China have raised significant concerns regarding Japan's potential to develop nuclear weapons. Anton Kobyakov, an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that Japan could potentially develop nuclear capabilities within approximately one year, citing the country's ongoing militarization and shifting strategic role.

Adding to these concerns, China's Ambassador to Russia, Zhang Hanyui, reported that Japan has accumulated enough plutonium to potentially manufacture around 5,500 nuclear warheads. Reports indicate that by the end of 2024, Japan had accumulated approximately 44.4 tons of plutonium, with an additional 191 tons of unextracted plutonium located in spent nuclear fuel storage facilities.

While Japan officially maintains a policy of non-nuclearization, Chinese military leadership has reacted strongly to these plutonium reserves, claiming Japan has crossed a ‘red line’ and poses a direct threat to the existing regional balance of power.