Rivalry out in open: Japan labels China 'greatest strategic challenge'

China said it has lodged "serious representations" over Japan's latest defence white paper, accusing Tokyo of portraying Beijing as its "greatest strategic challenge" and making "brazen comments" on Taiwan."The white paper once again targeted China with baseless accusations, repeated the so-called 'China threat' narrative and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs by making brazen comments on Taiwan," foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jing said."We strongly deplore and firmly reject this, and have lodged serious representations with Japan," he added.Lin also defended China's military drills around Taiwan, describing the self-governing island claimed by Beijing as "an inalienable part of China's territory.""The Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair. How to resolve it is a matter for the Chinese ourselves, and Japan is in no position to interfere," he stated.According to the white paper approved by Japan's cabinet on Tuesday, China's growing military activities pose Tokyo's "greatest strategic challenge" and "must be addressed through overall national strength and cooperation with allies and like-minded nations."The nearly 600-page document offers a detailed assessment of the increasingly volatile security environment in the Indo-Pacific.In the foreword, Japanese defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi expressed hope that the white paper would "deepen the public's understanding of Japan's defence and security, and serve as an opportunity for people to reflect on how security is linked to the future of every citizen.""As the security environment rapidly intensifies, what is needed now is to enhance resilience to crises across the entire Indo-Pacific region," Koizumi wrote, pledging to build "a multi-layered network of allies and like-minded nations" and strengthen cooperation in areas including military training, troop deployment, equipment and defence industrial infrastructure to bolster regional deterrence.Tensions between China and Japan have remained high since November last year, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in parliament that a Taiwan contingency could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, potentially prompting its Self-Defence Forces to support the United States.The remarks drew a sharp response from Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.On nuclear weapons, the white paper reaffirmed Japan's long-standing three non-nuclear principles, stating that Tokyo continues to uphold them "as policy guidelines."At the same time, Koizumi has signalled a possible review of Japan's decades-old pledge not to produce, possess or host nuclear weapons, saying the debate on the issue is one "we cannot avoid."(With PTI inputs)Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.