Investing.com — Japan pushed back against China’s accusations that Tokyo is pursuing “new militarism,” with Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi criticizing Beijing’s claims during a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Bloomberg reported on Sunday.
Koizumi questioned China’s criticism of Japan’s defense policies, noting that Tokyo does not possess nuclear weapons or strategic bombers.
“Isn’t it strange that China, who has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers, calls out Japan, who has neither of such weapons, for so-called ’new militarism,’” Koizumi said.
The remarks marked one of Japan’s strongest public responses to Beijing’s recent criticism of Tokyo’s defense posture.
China has stepped up warnings about Japan’s military policies in recent months as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government has moved to ease restrictions on weapons exports, participated in U.S.-led military exercises in the South China Sea, and discussed potential security risks related to Taiwan.
Beijing has criticized those actions and has drawn comparisons between Japan’s current military expansion and its wartime history.
Koizumi rejected those claims, saying Japan’s efforts are intended to deter conflict and are being conducted transparently.
The defense minister also expressed concern about China’s growing regional assertiveness, warning of what he described as the “weaponization of everything” in the Indo-Pacific region.
Link: https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/japan-rejects-china-militarism-criticism-043409305.html