Marking the 95th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, criticism was directed at Japan’s latest 2026 Defense White Paper for failing to reflect on its history of aggression and instead promoting historical revisionism under the guise of counter-cognitive warfare.

Right-wing forces in Japan are accused of systematically blurring past atrocities in school textbooks, glorifying war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine, and spending heavily on overseas public opinion campaigns.

These acts, along with a defense budget surpassing 9 trillion yen and expanding military capabilities, are framed as attempts to break through the post-WWII international order. To gain regional trust, Japan must face its war record and make a complete break from militarism.

Source: People’s Daily