"Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian accused Japan of attempting to 'resurrect militarism' after Tokyo moved to increase its defence budget for the 2026 fiscal year. "Recent international criticism of Japan's military security developments has been mounting. Instead of reflecting and restraining itself, Japan plans to significantly increase its defence budget once again," Lin said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday. "Japan is deviating further and further away from the path of peaceful development and moving in a dangerous direction," he added Japan's cabinet has approved its defence spending for the next fiscal year, setting a new record as it continues to expand military capabilities amid regional security concerns. The increase marks the fourth year of Japan's five-year plan to double defence spending to about two percent of gross domestic product. The spokesperson claimed Japan was making 'dangerous moves in the cyber domain' through its increased budget, which will exceed nine trillion yen ($58 billion), describing the move as a 'shift from cyber defence to cyber offence'. He called on the international community to hold Japan accountable and for the country to clarify what he called potential 'preemptive cyber aggression as it once,' warning that any actions undermining China's security interests would draw a response from Beijing."