China criticizes Japan's 'new militarism'; Japan's defense minister questions China's stance

Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi challenged China's accusations of "new militarism" at the Shangri-La Dialogue, questioning the basis for such a label from a country with a large nuclear arsenal and strategic bombers. Koizumi defended Japan's post-war adherence to international law and the UN Charter, emphasizing its commitment to a free and open international order.

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Japan's post-war record of abiding by the law is self-evident, and Japan has always adhered to international law and the UN Charter and continued to maintain a free and open international order.

Koizumi highlighted China's increasing defense spending and lack of transparency in its military activities, which he stated have caused significant concern for Japan and the international community. He asserted that Japan is transparently developing its defense capabilities, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, cyber, and space defense.

Japan is also aiming to foster a regional environment resistant to coercion and is determined to play a new role in defense equipment cooperation to strengthen deterrence. This includes revising its decades-old defense equipment export rules to allow for the export of weapons like warships and missiles.

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Japan will gradually build up its defense capabilities and conduct highly transparent updates in areas such as artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, cyber, and space defense.

Despite the tensions, Koizumi expressed regret over the absence of China's Defense Minister from the summit, emphasizing that Japan's dialogue with China and other regional nations remains open to promote stability. The summit saw China's representative, Major General Meng Xiangqing, question Japan's trustworthiness for defense cooperation.

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Japan wants to build a regional environment that can resist coercion and is not swayed by pressure, and is determined to play a new role in defense equipment cooperation to strengthen deterrence.