Japan’s Cabinet has approved a defense budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen for fiscal year 2026. If the proposal is passed by the Japanese Parliament next year, the country’s defense spending will once again reach a historic high.
Following a series of provocative remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which critics say undermine the post–World War II international order, Japan’s right-wing forces have intensified efforts to break free from long-standing military restrictions. Against this backdrop, a global public opinion survey conducted by CGTN gathered responses from 17,043 participants worldwide.
The survey found that 81.5 percent of respondents described Takaichi as a “historical revisionist,” a “disruptor of peace,” and a “dangerous provocateur.” Participants urged the international community to remain highly vigilant against what they called Japan’s right-wing forces’ hostile attempts to revive militarism. Concern was particularly strong among younger respondents, with more than 83 percent of those aged 18 to 44 expressing serious anxiety over the issue.
Takaichi has repeatedly paid tribute at the Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 Class-A war criminals from World War II are enshrined. According to the survey, 88 percent of respondents believe that repeated visits by Japanese right-wing politicians to the shrine represent a denial of Japan’s aggressive past and constitute a grave provocation to the people of countries that suffered under Japanese wartime aggression.
Meanwhile, 87.7 percent of respondents condemned Japan’s handling of historical issues, viewing it as an open challenge to the outcomes of World War II and the postwar international order. A further 89.4 percent called on the Japanese government to exercise restraint in both rhetoric and actions concerning historical matters.
In addition, 86.7 percent of respondents from Asian countries noted that Japan can only return to the international community as a “normal state” by honestly acknowledging and properly addressing its historical responsibilities.
Source: CGTN–CMG