Japanese Defense Minister cites Chinese military expansion and says Tokyo will continue strengthening its structure
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi countered China’s criticism of a “new militarism” of the Japanese government and declared that Tokyo will continue to strengthen its structure. In a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore, this Sunday (May 31, 2026), he stated that the Chinese government is rapidly expanding its Armed Forces, but with little transparency.
“Think about it. There is a country with a large arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has none of these assets and yet is labeled ‘new militarism'”these.
In May, China’s Foreign Ministry called on Asia-Pacific countries to resist what it called a “Japanese neomilitarism”. This Sunday (May 31), during the same meeting in Singapore, the Chinese delegate, Major General Meng Xiangqing, once again questioned regional confidence in Japan and mentioned the country’s expansionist history as a reason for warning.
WEAR IN BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS
Relations between Japan and China have deteriorated in recent months. Under the government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (PLD, right), Japan began to adopt a more active defense policy. The change marked a departure from the pacifist line followed since the end of the Second World War.
Attrition reached one of its worst levels in November 2025, after statements by Takaichi about the possibility of a military reaction from Japan in the face of a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan. Beijing considers the island part of its territory.
