SINGAPORE – Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi yesterday rejected accusations of ‘new militarism’ by Tokyo and criticised China for rapidly expanding its military with little transparency, underscoring mounting tensions between the two countries.
China continues to increase its defence spending at a high level, Koizumi said at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, adding: “China’s external approach and military activities are matters of serious concern for Japan and the international community at the same time.”
Rebutting criticism that Japan was embracing new militarism, he said: “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’?”
Koizumi said Japan’s record since World War Two ‘speaks for itself’, citing its adherence to international law and commitment to the United Nations Charter, alongside efforts to uphold a ‘free and open international order.’
In May, China’s Foreign Ministry called on Asia-Pacific countries to be vigilant and ‘jointly resist the reckless actions of Japan’s neo-militarism’.
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