TOKYO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Japanese media outlets on Wednesday disclosed an outline of the government's 2026 defense white paper, which continues to portray the regional security environment as "increasingly severe" while calling for enhanced development in unmanned systems and artificial intelligence.

According to the Asahi Shimbun, the upcoming annual defense report largely follows the narrative of the 2025 edition, arguing that the international community has entered a "new era of crisis," characterizing the security environment in the "Indo-Pacific region" as "increasingly severe," and hyping up the so-called "China threat" theory.

The white paper states that defense production and technological capabilities are directly linked to defense strength. It advocates creating an "environment of mutual support" by deploying the same defense equipment as allies and other "like-minded" countries, the newspaper said.

Meanwhile, Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported that the 2026 white paper introduces a new section on "emerging modes of warfare," which stresses the need to expand the use of unmanned aerial systems and artificial intelligence technologies in defense operations.

Some observers in Japan have expressed concern that the government's continued efforts to justify changes in defense policy by citing a deteriorating security environment could heighten military tensions and increase the risk of conflict.

The full defense white paper is expected to be submitted to Japan's Cabinet for approval this summer. ■