@mothershipsg: Japanese defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi pushed back against accusations of “new militarism” in his speech and Q&A session at the 2026 Shangi-La Dialogue (SLD) on May 31. Koizumi noted that Japan has consistently respected international law since the end of WWII, and is committed to maintaining a free and open international order. Shen Zhixiong, a member of the Chinese delegation, asked if Japan would offer expressions of remorse or “clear apologies” to Asian countries affected by Japanese militarism during WWII, as Japanese leaders recently expressed condolences at an Australian war memorial. Koizumi said that Japan's defence policy was not aimed at any specific country, and pointed to China's growing military spending and expanding military capabilities “without sufficient transparency”, which he said was a concern for Japan and the international community. But Koizumi also emphasised the importance of candid dialogue and communication with China. He earlier noted the absence of China’s defence minister Dong Jun at the SLD, saying he felt “sad” they couldn’t meet, and said Japan’s door is “always open” to talks. #mothershipnews #mothershipabroad

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Sunday 31 May 2026 04:22:05 GMT