Japanese protesters oppose Takaichi's push to amend constitution, expand arms exports

Protesters rallied outside Japan's parliament on Thursday against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's security agenda, including her push to amend the constitution, revise the country's three core security documents and expand arms exports.

They also opposed potential changes to Japan's three non-nuclear principles, under which the country pledges not to possess, produce or allow the introduction of nuclear weapons.

"Down with the war-mongering Diet! Stop efforts to revise Article 9 of the constitution! Stop revisions to the three security documents!" protesters chanted.

"I firmly oppose amending the constitution. It is unbelievable that Japan, a country with Article 9 and a pacifist constitution, is becoming a country that can export weapons. I want to stop this, whatever it takes. But Japan has already reached the point where it can sell weapons to all kinds of countries, and I really hate that. That is why I try to take part in protests like this whenever I can," one protester told China Central Television (CCTV).

Article 9 of Japan's postwar constitution renounces war as a means of settling international disputes. The constitution, which took effect in 1947, has never been amended.

Takaichi's government has pledged to revise Japan's three core security documents and relax restrictions on military exports. In April, her cabinet lifted a longstanding ban on lethal weapons exports, widening the range of defense equipment that Japanese companies can sell overseas.

"For me, constitutional revision is absolutely unacceptable. The Takaichi administration is trying to amend the constitution in order to take the country to war, so we must stop it. Measures such as revising the constitution and formulating an anti-espionage law are now moving ahead rapidly. From the way anti-war voices are being suppressed, I think war has, in fact, already begun," another protester said.

"I think we have no choice but to bring down the Takaichi administration. This is reckless politics. We firmly oppose it and will fight against it," a third protester said.

Japanese protesters oppose Takaichi's push to amend constitution, expand arms exports

China witnessed a net increase of approximately 160 billion U.S. dollars in foreign capital inflows during the first five months of 2026, representing a marked improvement in the country's appeal to global investors, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said on Friday.

"Balance of payments data showed that foreign investors' various types of investment in China recorded a net increase of about 160 billion U.S. dollars in the first five months of the year, significantly outperformed the same period last year. This includes direct investment, portfolio investment, and deposits and loans absorbed from abroad. China maintains its position as the world's second-largest destination for accumulated foreign investment stock," Zhao Yuchao, head of SAFE Balance of Payments Department, told reporters at a press briefing, adding that China maintains its position as the world's second-largest destination for accumulated foreign investment stock.

The SAFE data also showed China's foreign investment structure has continued to shift toward higher-value and more innovation-driven sectors.

"The SAFE cross-border receipts and payments data showed that in the first half of the year, foreign capital inflows into China's high-tech services and high-tech manufacturing sectors increased by 61 percent year on year, accounting for 36 percent of total capital inflows, up 11 percentage points from the same period last year. The data indicates foreign investment in China has gradually shifted in recent years, from seeking the cost and scale advantages of 'Made in China', to jointly participating in the development of 'Created in China'," Zhao said.

Foreign investment into China sees 160-bln-USD net increase in Jan-May period: SAFE