Japan's Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera on September 3, warned that Japan faces a tough security environment, with China and Russia stepping up military activity and North Korea posing "imminent threats". He told an annual gathering of the top brass of Japan's Self-Defense Forces that China had been "unilaterally escalating" its military activities in the past year, including carrying out new airborne operations around Japan and running a nuclear submarine near disputed East Coast isles. He added  "China has been rapidly improving its military strength and fast increasing its military activities. It is unilaterally escalating its military activities in the sea and aviation spaces around our country. This has become a significant concern for our country's defence." 

(Comment: Onodera made the remarks as news was revealed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expected to visit China on October 23, 2018. Japanese businesses have also voiced desire for closer ties with China to boost trade.)