Japan Defence Minister Pushes Back on China’s Militarism Accusations
Speaking at the final day of a defence conference in Singapore, Shinjiro Koizumi argued that it is China’s expanding “huge arsenal” that should be of greater concern to the international community. His remarks represented some of Tokyo’s strongest public criticism yet in response to repeated Chinese accusations regarding Japan’s defence policy under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The exchange comes amid long-standing tensions between the two countries, rooted in Japan’s wartime invasion of China during World War Two. The historical legacy continues to shape political relations and security perceptions in the region.
Ahead of the Singapore meeting, China’s defence ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin warned that what he called “the grey rhino of a remilitarised Japan is gathering speed,” urging global actors to “work together to contain Japan’s neo-militarism.”
At the same time, Japan has been steadily increasing defence spending for more than a decade, setting record budgets for 12 consecutive years. Its most recent allocation, approved in December, exceeds 9 trillion yen (about $57 billion), bringing it closer to its goal of allocating 2% of GDP to defence.
Japanese officials have consistently maintained that the country’s military expansion is defensive in nature, stressing that it does not seek conflict but aims to strengthen its security capabilities.
During his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, Koizumi stated that it is “only natural” for countries, including Japan, to modernize their defence systems in response to evolving threats and to help maintain regional stability.
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