Japan Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi don fire back at China for calling Japan a new militarist. He talk say China na the one wey get big arsenal of weapons wey dey worry international community.
Koizumi yarn this one on the last day of defence summit for Singapore, the Shangri-La Dialogue. He say Japan only dey update im defence to meet new challenges and contribute to peace for the region.
China don dey warn say Japan dey remilitarise. Last week, China Defence Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin call Japan action a grey rhino wey dey gather speed. He urge international community to contain Japan neo-militarism.
Japan don increase defence budget for 12 years straight. The latest budget wey cabinet approve for December pass 9 trillion yen ($57bn). That one move Japan closer to target of spending 2% of GDP on military.
Koizumi say every country get right to update defence. He promise Japan go proceed with high transparency and engage in constant dialogue with other countries.
He refute the idea of new militarism, say na nothing further from the truth. He point out say China get huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers, but Japan no get any of those. So why Japan dey labelled new militarism? He ask.
After im speech, Chinese military representative ask if Japan go apologise to China, South Korea and Southeast Asian victims for World War Two. Koizumi sidestep the question and take aim at China again. He say China increase defence spending at high level and expand military capabilities without sufficient transparency.
He add say Japan door always open for communication with China. The issue of apology don be long sticking point between the two countries. China don criticise some apologies as insufficient.
Koizumi papa, Junichiro Koizumi, issue several apologies when he be prime minister. Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi don take major steps to boost defence since taking power for October 2025.
With increased military budget, Japan plan to invest in new surface-to-ship missiles and unmanned drones for land and underwater. Japan don also relax rules to allow sell lethal weapons to other countries. That move go help build up defence industrial base.
Japan go revise key security documents by end of this year. Takaichi don push for revising Article 9 of Japan constitution, a pacifist clause wey renounce war.
Tensions with China escalate for November when Beijing take issue with Takaichi suggestion say Japan fit respond with own self-defence force if China attack Taiwan. Takaichi moves don deeply divide Japan. Some support increased defence against potential threats like China. Others fear e fit escalate possibility of confrontation.
There don be fierce debate whether Japan dey move away from post-war pacifism, a core part of national identity. Anti-war protests don hold across country for recent months, some swell to become Japan largest for decades.
