Geopolitical competition in East Asia is intensifying again. Japan\nhas vowed to continue strengthening its defence capabilities and\nexpanding security cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region, while\nrejecting Chinese accusations that these moves constitute \u2018new\nmilitarism\u2019.<\/p>\n
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi made the statement at the\nShangri-La Dialogue international security forum in Singapore on Sunday.\nTokyo\u2019s stance comes amid rising regional rivalries involving China, the\nUnited States, and several Indo-Pacific allies.<\/p>\n
Koizumi said the regional security environment has grown increasingly\ncomplex, with rising military tensions compounded by new competition in\ncyber, space, technology, and information domains.<\/p>\n
\u2018The boundary between peace and emergency is becoming increasingly\nunclear,\u2019 Koizumi said on Sunday (31 May 2026).<\/p>\n
Amid this, Japan is accelerating its defence modernisation. Tokyo\nplans to revise key national security documents by year-end while\nboosting investment in artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, cyber\ncapabilities, and space technology.<\/p>\n
This forms part of a major shift in Japan\u2019s security policy, which\nhas been cautious in military matters since World War II. However,\nescalating regional tensions have led Tokyo to conclude that defence\nstrengthening can no longer be delayed.<\/p>\n
Koizumi openly addressed Beijing\u2019s criticism accusing Japan of moving\ntowards \u2018new militarism\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018There is a country with large nuclear arsenals and strategic\nbombers. Japan does not possess such weapons. Yet, Japan is labelled as\npursuing \u2019new militarism\u2019. Isn\u2019t that strange?\u2019 Koizumi said.<\/p>\n
He stressed Japan\u2019s post-WWII reputation as a peace-loving nation\nwould not be tarnished by what he called false accusations.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Koizumi warned that opaque military buildup could breed\nmistrust and dangerous miscalculations. Japan has pledged to conduct its\ndefence modernisation with high transparency.<\/p>\n
Amid the debate, Tokyo-Beijing relations remain strained. Tensions\nrose after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated in November that\nJapan could support the US if China attacks Taiwan.<\/p>\n
Taiwan is one of the most sensitive issues between the two nations.\nBeijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out\nusing force for reunification. Meanwhile, regional nations fear a Taiwan\nStrait conflict could trigger wider security crises in Asia.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japan-hardens-stance-against-china-as-defence-minister-warns-of-blurring-peace-and-emergency-lines-1780290800", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }