SINGAPORE – Japan’s defense minister Koizumi Shinjirō rejected claims of “new militarism” during remarks at Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue, the region’s top gathering for defense officials and military leaders.
Speaking on Sunday, Koizumi challenged the accusations with pointed comments directed at China. “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 stated.
The defense minister emphasized Japan’s commitment to international cooperation, saying “Since the end of the Second World war, Japan has consistently respected international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and has made sincere efforts tomaintain and strengthen a free and open international order.”
The comments come after China’s foreign ministry urged Asia-Pacific nations in May to remain alert and “jointly resist the reckless actions of Japan’s neo-militarism.”
Koizumi expressed disappointment about missing opportunities for dialogue, noting he felt “sad” about not being able to meet his Chinese counterparts at the conference.
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun has now skipped the Singapore security forum for two consecutive years, avoiding face-to-face meetings with international defense officials.
