Japan Rejects China’s ‘New Militarism’ Label as Hypocritical

Shen Zhixiong, a senior colonel from the National Defense University and member of China's delegation to the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), raised a pointed question to Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday morning.

Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has strongly rejected China's claim that his nation was moving towards “new militarism.” He accused Beijing of rapidly arming itself.

This strategic shift includes increased defense spending, expanded joint exercises with the United States and regional partners like the Philippines and Australia, and an April decision to relax longstanding restrictions on lethal weapons exports.

The two countries have a long history of tensions stemming from Japan's invasion of China during World War Two.