The government has begun coordinating to keep the current national security strategy's description of China as "the greatest strategic challenge" when it revises the strategy and two related security documents at the end of the year, shelving a "threat" label floated within the ruling parties.
The Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai will open their first joint talks on the three documents on the 10th, accelerating the debate. Multiple government and ruling-party officials disclosed the direction.
The strategy sets out the security environment and challenges Japan faces as the basis for the strategy it should adopt. On China, the first version in 2013 referred to "concerns in the international community, including our country."
The previous revision in 2022 raised the level of vigilance, calling China "a serious concern for Japan and the international community, and the greatest strategic challenge we have ever faced."
Ishin's proposal used "threat"
A proposal Nippon Ishin no Kai compiled in June used the words "a serious threat to countries aspiring to a free and open international order." Some in the ruling camp argue Japan should raise its guard against China.
A government and ruling-party official took a negative view. "Writing 'threat' and provoking China is not diplomatically advantageous. What matters is how we prepare in concrete terms," the official said.
“Writing 'threat' and provoking China is not diplomatically advantageous. What matters is how we prepare in concrete terms.”a government and ruling-party official
The final wording will be settled through the ruling-party talks.
LDP security panel warns against being pushed
Before those talks, the LDP's security research council, chaired by former Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, held an informal meeting of senior members at party headquarters on the 9th.
According to people involved, one participant warned against being outflanked, saying the party must not be "pushed through by Ishin's arguments." The remark came with the two parties divided on issues including revising the three non-nuclear principles and introducing nuclear-powered submarines.