Politics Koizumi rebuts China's 'new militarism' claims

Minister of Defence Koizumi rejected accusations of "new militarism" during a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on 31 May, while also criticising China over its rapidly expanding military and lack of transparency.


Japan's defence minister said China's military activities were a matter of "serious concern" for both Japan and the wider international community. Koizumi also pushed back against claims that Japan was becoming militaristic, arguing that Japan possessed neither nuclear weapons nor strategic bombers despite being labelled as such. He said Japan's postwar record showed its commitment to international law, the United Nations Charter and a "free and open international order."

Speaking at the Asia Security Conference, Koizumi appeared to criticize China without naming the country directly, responding to repeated assertions that Japan is pursuing a militaristic path. "A country that possesses large numbers of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers is calling Japan, which possesses neither, a 'new militarist' state. Don't you find that strange?" Koizumi said. He condemned such accusations as "false claims," pushing back against criticism that has intensified as Japan expands its defense capabilities in response to growing security challenges in the region.

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