Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi attends the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue Summit in Singapore on May 29, 2026 (Photo by JAM STA ROSA/AFP, Getty Images)
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Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said that despite increasing defense spending and revising arms export guidelines, “the door to dialogue is always open” to the international community.
At the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that Japan has always respected international law, adding, “Japan’s path as a peaceful nation has been valued by the region and the international community. This fact is true and will not be swayed by false claims.”
He also said that accusations that Japan is involved in “neo-militarism” “couldn’t be further from the truth.”
According to state media Xinhua News Agency, on May 28, China’s Ministry of Defense called on the international community to jointly contain Japan’s “new militarism.”
Japan has recently taken steps to expand its defense posture, including lifting a ban on the export of lethal weapons and considering amending Article 9 of the constitution, which would renounce war and the maintenance of an army.
Mr. Koizumi said, “Think about it. There are countries that have large numbers of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of those things, yet Japan is labeled as a neo-militarist. Isn’t this strange?”
Japan’s defense minister said he was “regretted” not being able to meet with China’s Dong Jun at the forum, stressing that Beijing did not have senior cabinet-level officials present at the talks.
Prime Minister Koizumi said that while it is true that there will be differences in perception and friction between countries, there is no need to repeat “baseless claims in the absence of the other party.”
After Mr. Dong was absent from the talks for the second year in a row, the Chinese government had dispatched a junior delegation led by Major General Meng Xiangqing of the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University.
At the beginning of the conversation, Meng harshly criticized Tokyo, pointing out that 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in 1946, where Japanese leaders were tried for their crimes in World War II.
transparency
In his speech, Prime Minister Koizumi also called for “trust, transparency, and dialogue” in the Asia-Pacific region to maintain peace and security in the region.
Japan’s defense minister said transparency is the “basic line for easing tensions and preventing crises.”
Tokyo will build up its defense capabilities with a “high level” of transparency, he said, adding that Japan is strengthening its defense capabilities because of new methods of warfare emerging around the world, such as the use of AI, cyber warfare, and unmanned systems.
Prime Minister Koizumi said, “I want to take responsibility and proceed with the necessary preparations.”
Prime Minister Koizumi also stated that China continues to increase its defense spending at high levels and is “rapidly expanding its military capabilities in a wide range of fields without sufficient transparency.”
According to Reuters, in November 2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said its member states were concerned about China’s rapid and unclear military buildup.
This raises serious concerns for the Japanese government and the international community, and Prime Minister Koizumi also said that Japan believes it is essential to have “persistent and frank dialogue and communication” without shying away from difficult issues.
He acknowledged that countries would have different positions and views, “but that’s why we need dialogue.”
