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China criticizes Japan's expansion of long-range military capabilities and new hypersonic weapon plans.

China has criticized Japan's recent defense initiatives, specifically the plans to arm submarine drones with long-range missiles and an agreement to test hypersonic weapons on Australian soil. Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, stated that Japan has openly expanded its military arsenal and described the moves as dangerous, noting they resemble Japan's pre-World War II militarization.

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Japan has been rapidly expanding its long-range strike capabilities since adopting a counterstrike capability in its 2022 security strategy. While Japan does not currently have an official hypersonic system in active service, it is developing several systems, including the Block 2 HVGP and a scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile. Tokyo also plans to develop an underwater-launched hypersonic missile and research technology to arm unmanned underwater vehicles. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles agreed on August 18 that Japan could use Australian missile ranges for its hypersonic program over the next decade. Koizumi described the move as groundbreaking.

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