I got called a tankie and banned for questioning whether Japan had any appetite for a war with China

Just for the record, you were right.

A majority of respondents said the Self-Defense Forces should limit its role to rearguard support to the U.S. military in the event of an attempted Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Twenty-seven percent said the SDF should not work with the U.S. military, and 11 percent said the SDF should use force with the U.S. military.

Voters were also asked which of the two approaches they think Japan should prioritize for its national security: deepening the relationship with China through diplomacy and the economy or strengthening defense capabilities.

Seventy percent selected “deepening the relationship with China,” far more than the 26 percent who chose “strengthening defense capabilities.”

The Japanese government has been pushing for a larger military budget at the behest of its American masters, but the Japanese people absolutely don't want that.