Japan Refutes 'New Militarism', Accuses China of Rapidly Arming
Koizumi said Japan will expand defense cooperation and transparency as China widens its military buildup, with Beijing absent from the forum for a second year.
- On Sunday, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi rejected Beijing's "new militarism" accusations at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, stating "nothing could be further from the truth."
- Tensions escalated after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that a Taiwan conflict could trigger a Japanese military response, prompting Beijing to accuse Tokyo of following a "reckless policy."
- Contrasting Japan's capabilities with China's, Koizumi noted his country lacks China's "huge arsenal" of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers, while Tokyo recently approved a defense budget exceeding 9 trillion yen .
- Koizumi expressed regret he was "unable to have the opportunity to have a meeting" with Chinese counterparts, as Japan recently relaxed rules permitting lethal weapon sales to strengthen its defense industrial base.
- Japan intends to revise key security documents by year's end and may pursue constitutional changes to Article 9, while maintaining its "door is always open" for communication with China.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Japan rejects 'new militarism,' accuses China of rapidly arming
SINGAPORE – Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Sunday rejected accusations of “new militarism” by Tokyo and criticized China for rapidly expanding its military with little transparency, underscoring mounting tensions between the two countries. China continues to increase its defense spending at a high level, Koizumi said at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, adding: “China’s external approach and military activities are matters of s…
Japanese minister rejects ‘new militarism’ label from China in Shangri-La speech
Japan’s defence minister has rejected suggestions that his country is reviving its militaristic past, telling a regional security conference that changes to its defence strategy would allow it to play a new cooperative role. Shinjiro Koizumi also used his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday to state that Tokyo opposed “unilateral changes to the status quo by force or coercion”, a comment believed to refer to Beijing’s maritime activities…
Japan's Defense Minister subtly criticized China, promising that his country would continue to strengthen its armed forces, despite Beijing's objections. Japan adopted a more proactive defence policy under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's leadership, abandoning the pacifist approach that had followed since the end of World War II. This change has attracted frequent criticism from China, which accuses Tokyo of embracing an reckless "new militarism…
Japan's Defense Minister rejected accusations from China that Japan was returning to "neoliness," and criticized China for rapidly expanding its military capabilities and defense budget without transparency.
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