China, Look At The Numbers: Japan Threatens Nobody

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The China Coast Guard similarly outmatches the Japan Coast Guard numbers-wise. Moreover, many CCG ships are built for fighting other ships – not patrolling to stop illegal fishing, like the Japanese ones.

And there's more at sea that Japan can't match.

A flotilla of Chinese maritime militia“fishing” vessels aggressively entered waters near Senkaku Islands (September 2020)

China's maritime militia is armed and double-hulled (for ramming). And it's part of the People's Armed Police, adding to China's military heft.

Then there is China's vast fishing fleet, which has been used to swarm Japanese maritime territory ー–sending a message to Tokyo:“Anytime we want, we can overwhelm you.”

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force is at most one-third the size of the People's Liberation Army Air Force in terms of aircraft numbers. And, no, technology and pilot skill do not make up the difference.

The Chinese have long-range bombers that are also nuclear-capable. Japan has neither bombers nor nukes.

Ground forces: The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has 150,000 troops. The People's Liberation Army: about 965,000 ground troops.

Consider how the two nations' militaries are being employed

China's non-stop military operations around Taiwan are surrounding the island. They could launch an actual attack with little notice, or none at all.

Aerial photograph of a mammoth China Coast Guard vessel in the South China Sea. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard

And the People's Republic of China (PRC) has taken de facto control of the South China Sea – international waters bigger than the Mediterranean Sea. China has built artificial island military bases to lock down control. Domestic Chinese law declares the South China Sea to be China's own.

Chinese naval, coast guard, and paramilitary ships encroach daily in Philippine territory and harass Philippine boats, military and civilian. The Chinese have occupied the Philippines' Scarborough Shoal since 2012.

The China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia squeeze a Philippine vessel (center front). Published on the Chinese Southern Command's official WeChat account on June 19, 2024.

And Japan is in the crosshairs, too. The China Coast Guard (with PLAN over the horizon) and the Chinese fishing fleet are a year-round presence around Japan's Senkaku Islands – which China claims.

Meanwhile, the Japan Coast Guard and navy are overstretched just covering the Senkakus.

Beijing is also openly challenging Japan's ownership of the entire Ryukyu Island chain.

Nukes and missiles?

PRC mouthpieces are once again threatening nuclear strikes on Japan, using China's rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal.

Japanese nukes? None. It's counting on American nukes.

China's missile and rocket force dwarfs whatever Japan can muster.

Japan's recent push to acquire long-range missiles and develop hypersonic weapons, are stopgap and overdue efforts to strengthen a dangerously weak defense.

Chinese newspapers criticize Prime Minister Takaichi, Beijing, November 18. Photo: ©Sankei / Shohei Mitsuka

Who is threatening whom?

Verbal threats against Japan occur daily in the Chinese media.

Nobody in Japan has ever talked about attacking China, or anyone else. In fact, Japan has bent over backwards for decades to accommodate the PRC, including giving handsome foreign aid.