Japan's Defense Minister Dismisses Chinese Accusations of Renewed Militarism

In a session of the Lower House Budget Committee, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi challenged China's accusations that Japan is reviving militarism, highlighting Japan's lack of nuclear arms and strategic bombers. He suggested Beijing seeks to promote a narrative of Japanese "new militarism" abroad while concealing its own expanding and less transparent military capabilities, which currently total about 600 nuclear warheads and are expected to exceed 1,000 post-2030.

Koizumi referenced similar remarks made by President Xi Jinping at a September summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, where China labeled Japan's higher defense spending as an "arms buildup." He affirmed Japan will rebut unfair criticism, maintain open dialogue, and respond calmly and resolutely through the Defense Ministry and Self-Defense Forces.