The South China Morning Post reported on its front page that Japan's Defense Minister rejected China's label of "new militarism" during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, stating that Tokyo's more assertive defense policy would enable it to play a cooperative role in the region.
Yesterday, Japan's Defense Minister dismissed claims that Japan is reviving its militarist history, asserting at a regional security conference that changes to its defense strategy would allow it to take on new cooperative roles.
Xiaoquan Jinici also delivered a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, saying Tokyo opposes "unilaterally changing the status quo by force or coercion"—a statement widely interpreted as targeting Beijing's activities in maritime areas including the East China Sea and South China Sea, as well as potential military action to achieve Taiwan's reunification with mainland China.
"Every nation must be able to choose its future according to its own will. And this region must remain open to all countries that respect our shared rules and principles," said Xiaoquan Jinici. He did not explicitly name any country, but tensions between China and Japan have been particularly high since late last year.
In November last year, Prime Minister Sanae Kōchi suggested that a conflict across the Taiwan Strait could constitute an "existential threat," justifying Japan’s potential military intervention. The government led by Prime Minister Kōchi is also pushing for revisions to the country’s policy framework to adopt a more proactive military posture—an evolution condemned by China as reviving the militarist ideology that drove Japan’s aggression during World War II.
Beijing has also opposed Tokyo’s decision last month to dispatch warships through the Taiwan Strait.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866749668023296/
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