1 of 2 | A map in Japan’s 2026 defense white paper shows recent Chinese military activity around Japan, including operations involving a Shang-class submarine, the aircraft carrier Liaoning, H-6 bombers and TB-001 reconnaissance and attack drones. The inverted East Asia map also depicts Chinese-Russian joint naval operations and long-range flights into the Pacific beyond the First Island Chain. Courtesy of Japan Ministry
Aug. 5 (Asia Today) — Japan repeated its territorial claim over South Korea’s Dokdo islets for the 22nd consecutive year while describing South Korea as an important security partner in its 2026 defense white paper.
The 598-page report, approved by the Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday, illustrates the conflicting forces shaping relations between the two countries.
Japan maintained its disputed sovereignty claim over the South Korean-controlled islets while emphasizing the need to work with Seoul and Washington in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and its expanding military cooperation with Russia.
The report also expanded its coverage of artificial intelligence, drones, emerging military technology and Japan’s defense production base.
Japan repeats territorial claim for 22nd year
Japan’s Defense Ministry said in the report that the issue involving what it calls Takeshima, the Japanese name for Dokdo, remained unresolved.
Japan has included the claim in its annual defense white paper every year since 2005.
Maps included in the report also placed the islets within Japan’s air defense identification zone.
South Korea exercises effective control over Dokdo and rejects Japan’s claim. Seoul maintains that the islets are an integral part of South Korean territory historically, geographically and under international law.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry summoned Japan’s defense attaché in Seoul on Tuesday and demanded that Tokyo immediately correct the description.
Kim Hak-jo, director general for international policy at the ministry, lodged a formal protest with Takeshi Nagayoshi, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force officer serving as defense attaché at the Japanese Embassy.
The ministry said South Korea would respond firmly to any attempt to undermine its sovereignty over Dokdo.
The Foreign Ministry also condemned Japan’s claim and called for its immediate withdrawal.
White paper calls South Korea an important partner
Despite the territorial dispute, the white paper described South Korea for the third consecutive year as an important neighboring country and partner with which Japan should cooperate in addressing regional and international challenges.
The document cited recent defense exchanges, including Japan’s support for a stopover by the South Korean Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team.
It also referred to bilateral and trilateral search-and-rescue cooperation and the real-time sharing of North Korean missile-warning data among South Korea, Japan and the United States.
The language reflects Japan’s assessment that closer cooperation with Seoul and Washington is necessary as North Korea advances its nuclear and missile capabilities and strengthens military ties with Russia.
South Korea and Japan agreed in June to resume bilateral search-and-rescue exercises and expand defense exchanges while continuing trilateral cooperation with the United States.
China, Russia and North Korea remain major concerns
The white paper identified China’s expanding military activities as Japan’s greatest strategic challenge.
Maps in the report showed Chinese aircraft, warships, submarines and drones operating beyond the First Island Chain and farther into the Pacific.
Japan also expressed concern about joint Chinese-Russian military exercises and bomber flights near the Japanese archipelago.
The report described North Korea’s nuclear and missile development and growing cooperation with Russia as serious threats to regional security.
It emphasized the importance of the three countries’ missile-warning system and other forms of trilateral security cooperation.
Expert urges two-track approach
Joo Eun-sik, president of the Korea Research Institute for Strategy, said Japan’s repeated sovereignty claim weakens the foundation of trust needed for bilateral security cooperation.
“Japan’s insistence on its Dokdo claim for the 22nd consecutive year is clearly a factor that undermines trust in South Korea-Japan security cooperation,” Joo said.
He said Seoul should maintain a strong military posture around Dokdo while pursuing a carefully calibrated two-track defense strategy that preserves cooperation with Japan and the United States against threats from North Korea and Russia.
South Korean defense experts have increasingly called for Seoul to separate its response to historical and territorial disputes from practical security cooperation.
They say South Korea should reject Japan’s claim without compromise while continuing necessary cooperation on missile warnings, search-and-rescue operations and regional defense issues.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260805010001511
