Japan's Defense Minister Rejects China's 'New Militarism' Claims Amid Military Expansion
Japan's Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, has dismissed accusations from China that Japan is pursuing a policy of 'new militarism.' This comes as Japan, under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has been shifting towards a more proactive defense strategy, moving away from its post-World War II pacifist stance. The change has been encouraged by the United States and has led to criticism from Beijing, which views Japan's actions as potentially destabilizing for the region. Koizumi, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, emphasized that Japan does not possess nuclear weapons or strategic bombers, unlike China, which has been rapidly expanding its military capabilities. He highlighted that Japan's defense policy is transparent and focused on building capabilities in artificial intelligence, uncrewed systems, and cyber and space defense. 
