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Japan's Koizumi concentrated on wording over China at security summit
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Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi used his latest three-day visit to Singapore for the Asia Security Summit, better known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, to respond to China while keeping his language carefully controlled.
Key facts
- In his address on Sunday (May 31), Koizumi rejected Beijing’s criticism that Japan was pursuing “new militarism”, but he avoided wording that could excessively unsettle the neighbouring country.
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- Hegseth, however, used his address to urge US allies in Asia to raise defence spending to levels equivalent to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
- In the region, Australia and South Korea have set targets of increasing defence spending to 3 per cent and 3.5 per cent of GDP, respectively.
Summary
In his address on Sunday (May 31), Koizumi rejected Beijing’s criticism that Japan was pursuing “new militarism”, but he avoided wording that could excessively unsettle the neighbouring country.
Without naming China, he said, "There is a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of these weapons. And yet Japan is labelled 'new militarism.' Isn't it strange?"