Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has sparked tensions with China by emphasizing the country's commitment to military strength, while criticizing Beijing's opaque military expansion. In a veiled rebuke, Koizumi highlighted Japan's reputation as a "peace-loving" nation, a characterization that contrasts with China's rapidly expanding military capabilities. Japan's shift towards a more proactive defence policy under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi marks a significant departure from its post-World War II pacifist stance, with the US providing encouragement for this new direction. The comments come as China continues to assert its military presence in the region, raising concerns about the delicate balance of power in East Asia.
Shinjiro Koizumi says Japan valued as a ‘peace-loving’ nation while China expands military capabilities ‘without sufficient transparency’Japan’s defence minister took a veiled swipe at China on Sunday, pledging to keep strengthening the military despite Beijing’s criticism of Tokyo’s increasingly muscular security stance.Under the prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, Japan has quickened its pivot to a more proactive defence policy, further shaking off – with US encouragement – its pacifist outlook in place since the end of the second world war. Continue reading...
