By The South Asia Times

BEIJING - China has lodged formal diplomatic protests with Japan over its newly released "Defense of Japan 2026" white paper, rejecting the document's characterization of China as Tokyo's "greatest strategic challenge" and accusing Japan of using the so-called "China threat" to justify its own military expansion.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian told a press conference on Wednesday that Beijing "deplores and firmly rejects" the white paper's groundless accusations and its interference in China's internal affairs, particularly regarding Taiwan.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair," Lin stated, adding that Japan is "in no place to interfere". He also reaffirmed that the Diaoyu Islands are China's inherent territory.

Lin warned that Japan's accelerated "remilitarization" poses a serious threat to regional stability. He noted that Japanese militarists once inflicted "immense suffering on Asia and the world," yet Japan has failed to reflect on that history while speeding up military buildup, breaching its own constitution, and challenging the post-war international order.

"The latest white paper continues to trumpet the development of long-range offensive capabilities and new ways of warfare, and even packages Japan's rearmament as a growth driver. All these once again exposed the truth behind Japan's claim of being a 'peaceful nation,'" Lin said . He urged the international community to "stay on high alert and push it back".

Japan's 600-page white paper, approved by the cabinet on Tuesday, portrays China's military activities as "unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge," citing Chinese carrier deployments and activities around Taiwan. It also outlines plans for developing long-range missiles with "counterstrike capabilities," expanding the defense industry, and leveraging civilian technologies for military purposes.

In a separate response to questions about reported U.S. plans to ban imports of Chinese optical transceivers and impose tariffs on polysilicon, Lin Jian reiterated Beijing's opposition to Washington's overreach.

"Protectionism will not make the US more competitive," Lin said, adding that such moves seriously disrupt normal trade and are not in the interest of U.S. businesses and consumers. "China will continue firmly protecting our businesses' legitimate and lawful rights and interests," he stressed