Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi rejected accusations of new militarism during a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. In one of the sharpest responses to Beijing's criticism, Koizumi questioned why Japan is labeled with new militarism when it possesses neither nuclear weapons nor strategic bombers, unlike a country that maintains a huge arsenal of such weapons.
Koizumi described Japan as a peace-loving nation that has consistently respected international law and the United Nations Charter since the end of the Second World War. Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and with US encouragement, Japan has quickened its pivot toward a more proactive defence policy, moving away from its long-standing pacifist outlook. Koizumi also justified Japan's transition into a new role as a primary defense equipment supplier for the region, citing concerns over a looming crisis in Taiwan.
These remarks follow statements from China's foreign ministry in May, which called on Asia-Pacific countries to be vigilant and resist the actions of Japan's neo-militarism. Koizumi noted that China continues to expand its military capabilities without sufficient transparency. He expressed sadness over the inability to meet his Chinese counterparts, as Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun skipped the security meeting for the second consecutive year.