Japanese defence chief takes swipe at China at security meet

Japan's defense minister issued a veiled rebuke to China on Sunday, vowing to bolster the nation's military despite Beijing's accusations of "new militarism." Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Shinjiro Koizumi pushed back against China's criticisms, highlighting the disparity between Japan's defensive posture and China's vast nuclear arsenal.

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Think about it. There is a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of such weapons. And yet, Japan is labelled (as) ‘new militarism’. Isn’t it strange?

Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan has accelerated its shift toward a more proactive defense policy, shedding its post-World War II pacifist stance with U.S. encouragement. This change has drawn sharp criticism from Beijing, which alleges Tokyo is pursuing a destabilizing military buildup. Koizumi countered that labeling Japan as "new militarism" is illogical, given that Japan possesses no nuclear weapons, unlike China.

Koizumi expressed serious concern over China's opaque military expansion and stated that Tokyo would transparently enhance its defense capabilities. This includes advancements in artificial intelligence, uncrewed systems, cyber, and space defense. He emphasized that Japan's commitment to being a peace-loving nation remains unshaken by what he termed "false claims."

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Japan’s past as a peace-loving nation has been valued by the region and by international community. This fact will not be shaken by false claims, because it is a fact.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier defense forum, saw a notably subdued Chinese delegation, lacking its defense minister for the second consecutive year. Koizumi conveyed his regret at missing an opportunity for direct dialogue with his Chinese counterpart.

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I was feeling sad that we were unable to have the opportunity to have a meeting this time.