Chinese Military Publication Reports Japan's Plutonium Stockpile Could Enable Nuclear Weapons Production

The PLA Daily, a Chinese military publication, published a full-page report on Monday claiming Japan possesses substantial nuclear materials and technological capabilities for weaponization. According to the report, Japan had separated 44.4 tonnes of plutonium by the end of 2024, a quantity sufficient to manufacture approximately 5,500 nuclear warheads. The publication described this stockpile as 'astonishing' and warned that Japan could rapidly become a nuclear-armed state if it abandons its Three Non-Nuclear Principles, which prohibit possessing, producing, or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory. The report also alleged Japan has systematically developed its defense industry under civilian technology cover, laying groundwork for strategic policy shifts. It noted Tokyo allocated a record 17.5 billion yen to an advanced technology transition research program in 2025, an 18-fold increase from 2022, aimed at converting civilian technologies for military applications. The publication's claims come amid tensions between China and Japan, including recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan that angered Beijing. The report represents a rare detailed commentary from China's military media on Japan's nuclear potential.