Japan refutes \u2018new militarism\u2019, accuses China of rapidly arming<\/p>\n
\u201cThink about it. There\u2019s a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear\nweapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of such weapons, and\nyet Japan is labelled \u2018new militarism\u2019?,\u201d said Japanese Defence Minister\nShinjiro Koizumi.<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE: Japan\u2019s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Sunday (May\n31) refuted accusations of \u201cnew militarism\u201d by Tokyo and criticised\nChina for rapidly increasing military capabilities without transparency,\nunderlining deepening tensions between the two nations.<\/p>\n
China continues to increase its defence spending at a high level,\nKoizumi said at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, adding: \u201cChina\u2019s\nexternal approach and military activities are matters of serious concern\nfor Japan and the international community at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Refuting allegations that Japan was embarking on new militarism, he\nsaid: \u201cThink about it. There\u2019s a country that has a huge arsenal of\nnuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of such\nweapons, and yet Japan is labelled \u2018new militarism\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the end of the Second World war, Japan has consistently\nrespected international law, including the Charter of the United\nNations, and has made sincere efforts to maintain and strengthen a free\nand open international order,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In May, China\u2019s foreign ministry called on Asia-Pacific countries to\nbe vigilant and \u201cjointly resist the reckless actions of Japan\u2019s\nneo-militarism\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ties between Japan and China sank to their worst level in years after\nJapanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November that a\nhypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese\nmilitary response.<\/p>\n
China views Taiwan as its own territory, over the objections of\nTaipei\u2019s government.<\/p>\n
Koizumi said he felt \u201csad\u201d about not being able to meet his Chinese\ncounterpart at the dialogue, Asia\u2019s premier defence forum.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut again, we keep the door open to talks. I remain committed to\ncommunicating with the countries concerned, including China for the\npeace and stability in the region and of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the second year running, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun has\ngiven the Singapore security meeting a miss, skipping opportunities to\nmeet his counterparts.<\/p>\n
Koizumi said Japan is \u201cdetermined\u201d to play a new role in defence\nequipment cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and aims to tangibly\nstrengthen deterrence in the region.<\/p>\n
In April, Tokyo unveiled its biggest overhaul of defence export rules\nin decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening\nthe way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japan-refutes-new-militarism-accuses-china-of-rapidly-arming-1780289033", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }