China accuses Japanese defence minister of ‘baseless’ claims

China has accused Japan's defense minister of spreading "baseless" claims and deliberately sowing confusion, responding to remarks made at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi had pledged to strengthen Japan's military, warning that China is expanding its capabilities without sufficient transparency.

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They appear pale and feeble in the face of a series of historical and legal facts and figures.

Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated on Monday that Koizumi's comments were "entirely baseless" and "pale and feeble in the face of a series of historical and legal facts and figures." He added, "This Japanese official deliberately… attempts to turn the tables and sow confusion." Lin characterized Japan's dialogue as "nothing but hypocrisy, a performance put on for appearances, devoid of any genuine sincerity."

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This Japanese official deliberately… attempts to turn the tables and sow confusion.

The exchange follows a months-long diplomatic dispute that intensified in November when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Japan might intervene militarily if China attempted to seize Taiwan. Under Takaichi, Japan has accelerated its shift towards a more proactive defense posture, encouraged by the United States, moving away from its post-World War II pacifist stance.

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Japan’s so-called dialogue is nothing but hypocrisy, a performance put on for appearances, devoid of any genuine sincerity.

Koizumi's remarks at the dialogue highlighted China's expanding military capabilities as a "matter of serious concern for Japan." He outlined Tokyo's plan to "steadily build up its defence capabilities and make continuous updates with a high degree of transparency," including in areas like artificial intelligence, uncrewed systems, cyber, and space defense. Beijing has consistently criticized Japan's defense pivot, warning it could destabilize the region and accusing Tokyo of pursuing a reckless policy of "new militarism."

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China’s expanding military capabilities were “a matter of serious concern for Japan”.