Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi pledged to further strengthen Japan’s military capabilities while indirectly criticizing China during a security conference in Singapore on Sunday. Speaking at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Koizumi dismissed Beijing’s accusations that Tokyo is pursuing a risky “new militarism,” calling such claims untrue. Without naming China directly, he contrasted Japan’s lack of nuclear weapons with a country possessing vast nuclear and bomber arsenals, questioning the fairness of labeling Japan militaristic.

According to reports from Singapore, Japan under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is moving toward a more active defense policy, gradually departing from its post–World War II pacifist stance with U.S. support. China has repeatedly criticized this shift, warning it could threaten regional stability. Koizumi countered that China is expanding its military power without sufficient transparency, calling it a serious concern for Japan.

Koizumi said Japan will continue enhancing its defense capabilities with high transparency, including in artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, cybersecurity, and space defense. The Shangri-La Dialogue gathered security officials and experts from about 45 countries, though China again sent a lower-level delegation.