Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi responded to China’s criticism at the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference held in Singapore. He said that Japan will continue to increase its defense power and it is not right to call it new militarism. In fact, under the leadership of Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi, the country is making its security and defense policy stronger than before.
After World War II, Japan had adopted a pacifist policy, but now with the support of America, it is emphasizing on increasing its defense capabilities. China has been continuously criticizing this policy of Japan. Beijing says that Japan is again on the path of increasing military power, which may increase instability in Asia.
Mention of China’s nuclear weapons
Responding to these allegations, Koizumi said that this is not true. Without naming China, he said that there is a country which has a large number of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers, whereas Japan does not have such weapons. Despite this, Japan is called the new militarism, which is surprising. According to experts, China has more than 600 nuclear weapons, the target of which has been set to reach 1000.
When did Japan-China tension increase?
Tension between Japan and China increased further in November last year. At that time, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had said that if China tried to occupy Taiwan, Japan could intervene militarily. Taiwan is a self-governing island, but China considers it its part.
Koizumi said that China is continuously increasing its military strength, but does not give complete information about this. He said that China’s military activities are a matter of serious concern for Japan. He said that Japan has always been a peace-loving country and this is its identity throughout the world. A few allegations will not change this image.
What is the Shangri-La Dialogue?
Shangri-La Dialogue is an important defense and security conference of Asia, in which ministers and experts from about 45 countries participate. This time China sent a small delegation and for the second consecutive year its Defense Minister Dong Jun did not attend the conference. Koizumi said that he regretted that he could not meet him this time.
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