Japan Announces Largest Military Buildup Since WWII at Shangri-La Dialogue
Shinjiro Koizumi addressed Chinese accusations during a May 31, 2026 speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, highlighting Beijing's military expansion instead.
The Japan TimesDefense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi delivered a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, 2026, rejecting the term “new militarism” applied to Japan by Chinese officials and state-run media. ” He described Japan’s current military expansion as its largest since World War II, citing revisions to key strategic documents and a historic increase in defense spending.
The minister turned attention to Beijing’s own force posture without naming China directly.
He said the label misrepresents Tokyo’s defense changes while overlooking the mismatch between China’s military growth and its messaging about Japan. The Japan Times reported that Chinese officials and state-run media have used the term “new militarism” with increasing frequency to characterize Japan’s buildup.
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