When Japan’s defense minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, posted a note reading “Chaos or Reconstruction” on social media, it was far more than a simple political choice. It served as a stark warning, laying bare the dangerous course some political forces in Japan are embarking on — one underpinned by the elaborate fabrication of the “China threat theory” and aimed at removing obstacles to military expansion beyond the constraints of Japan’s post-war institutional framework.

The “reconstruction” blueprint touted by Koizumi is not rooted in profound reflection on Japan’s own history of aggression nor respect for the legitimate concerns of its neighbors. Instead, it relies entirely on a deliberately amplified narrative of an external “threat”. This rhetoric, which portrays Japan as a passive victim, conveniently evades the crux of rising regional tensions: To what extent has the worsening regional security landscape stemmed from Japan’s evasion of historical accountability, repeated provocations on issues touching upon other countries’ core interests, and the radical shift in its military policies?

I have firsthand experience of how such “threat” narratives are manufactured. In 2018, as a member of the Tsuen Wan District Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I attended the 3rd Asian Councils Forum in Japan. Regrettably, this platform, which should have fostered mutual understanding, was filled with one-sided, fact-free propaganda about the “China threat”, designed to justify pre-determined policies. Today, this practice has not abated; on the contrary, it has become more closely intertwined with concrete military deployments. For instance, the deployment of missile systems on Yonaguni Island, a mere 110 kilometers from the island of Taiwan, has an obvious strategic agenda — yet it is instead exploited to hype up tensions and validate the so-called “threat”. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy: Confrontation is manufactured to legitimize military buildup, which in turn further escalates confrontation.

The future of Asia demands bridges connecting hearts, not higher and thicker walls dividing people; it calls for a vision of shared prosperity, not a zero-sum mindset of confrontation

Koizumi once asked rhetorically: “Who would welcome such chaos?” We should go further to ask: Who benefits from this sustained state of tension? The answer is clear: Those forces seeking to break free from the constraints of Japan’s Peace Constitution and push for so-called “national normalization”. Framing China as the source of an “existential crisis” provides the perfect excuse to pursue constitutional revision, lift restrictions on collective self-defense rights and even explore so-called “counterstrike capabilities”. This path is not about “reconstruction” at all; it is a complete “remolding” of Japan’s post-war path of peaceful development.

True “reconstruction” lies in rebuilding mutual trust and the will for dialogue between nations. If Japan sincerely seeks stability and shared prosperity in Asia, it must stop viewing the development of its neighbors as a threat and cease its dangerous manipulations on issues involving China’s core interests such as the Taiwan question. A country’s security can never be built on hostile assumptions and military encirclement of another nation.

The critical choices facing Japan will determine whether it slides deeper into estrangement with its neighbors or embarks on a path of sincere reconciliation. The future of Asia demands bridges connecting hearts, not higher and thicker walls dividing people; it calls for a vision of shared prosperity, not a zero-sum mindset of confrontation. To chart a path of “reconstruction” that truly serves the long-term well-being of the Japanese people and the enduring peace of the region, Japan must squarely face up to history, respect its neighbors and abandon the dangerous practice of driving national policies with fabricated threats. This is the most crucial and irreversible historical choice of the moment.

The author is a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.