Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi attends the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 29, 2026. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP via Getty Images)
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Japan’s “door to dialogue remains open” to the international community as it increases defense spending and revises its arms export guidelines, according to Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
Speaking at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Koizumi said Tokyo has always respected international law, adding that “Japan’s approach as a peace-loving nation has been appreciated by the region and the international community. This fact will not be shaken by false claims because it is true.”
He also said about the allegations that Japan is involved in “neo-militarism” that “there is nothing further from the truth.”
China’s Ministry of Defense on May 28 called on the international community to work together to contain Japan’s “neo-militarism”, according to state media Xinhua.
Japan has recently taken steps to expand its defense posture, including lifting its ban on the export of dangerous weapons to foreign countries and changes to include Article 9 of its constitution, which condemns war and the maintenance of armed forces.
Koizumi said, “Think about it. There is a country with a huge stockpile of nuclear weapons and smart bombs. Japan has no such weapons, and yet Japan is called neo-militarist. Isn’t it strange?”
Japan’s defense minister revealed that Beijing does not have a minister-level official at the Dialogue, and said he was “sad” that he could not meet his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun at the forum.
Koizumi said disagreements and misunderstandings arise between nations, but the repetition of “groundless claims when the other side is not there” was not what was needed.
Beijing had sent a low-level delegation led by Major General Meng Xiangqing from the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University, after Dong skipped the Dialogue for the second year running.
Earlier in the Dialogue, Meng took a swipe at Tokyo, noting that 2026 was the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, where Japanese leaders were tried for their World War II crimes in 1946.
Transparency
In his remarks, Koizumi also called for “trust, transparency and dialogue” in the Asia-Pacific, in order to maintain peace and security in the region.
Japan’s defense minister said transparency is “the basis for reducing tensions and preventing problems.”
He said Tokyo will build its defense capabilities with a “higher level of transparency,” and added that Japan is strengthening these capabilities because of new warfare techniques emerging around the world, including AI, cyber warfare and the use of unmanned systems.
“We will make the necessary preparations with a sense of responsibility,” Koizumi added.
Koizumi also said that China continues to increase its defense spending at a high rate and is “rapidly increasing its military power in many areas without sufficient transparency.”
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization noted in November 2022 that its members are concerned about China’s rapid and overt military buildup, according to Reuters.
This has caused great concern in Tokyo and the international community, with Koizumi also saying that Japan believes it is important to have “continuous, clear dialogue and communication” without shying away from difficult issues.
He agreed that nations will have different views and opinions, “but that is because there must be dialogue.”
