Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjirō forcefully dismissed accusations of “new militarism” during a high‑profile address at the Shangri‑La Dialogue in Singapore, arguing that Japan has remained a steadfast defender of international law and regional stability.
Speaking before defence leaders and diplomats from across the Indo‑Pacific, Koizumi pushed back against Beijing’s recent warnings about Japan’s security posture. “Think about it. There’s a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of such weapons, and yet Japan is labelled ‘new militarism’?” he said, in remarks clearly aimed at China.
Koizumi stressed that since the end of World War II, Japan has consistently upheld the UN Charter and worked to strengthen a free and open international order. His comments follow a statement from China’s foreign ministry in May urging Asia‑Pacific nations to “jointly resist the reckless actions of Japan’s neo‑militarism.”
The minister also expressed disappointment that he was unable to meet his Chinese counterparts at the forum. For the second consecutive year, China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun skipped the Singapore gathering, avoiding opportunities for direct dialogue with regional defence chiefs.
Koizumi’s remarks underscored Japan’s growing frustration with Beijing’s rhetoric — and highlighted the widening diplomatic gap between the two Asian powers at a time of rising regional tension.
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