Japan's Koizumi Highlights Sovereignty, Military Stance Amid Tensions with China

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Koizumi emphasized the importance of regional sovereignty and highlighted Japan's non-nuclear, non-strategic bomber stance, in an apparent reference to China, amid heightened tensions over Taiwan and military policy revisions.

"Every country must be able to choose its future by its own will. And this region must remain open to all countries that respect our shared rules and principles," Koizumi said. He did not specify which country the comments were aimed at but tensions between China and Japan have been particularly high since late last year when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in comments to parliament that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait could constitute a “survival-threatening” situation – sufficient grounds for Japanese military intervention. Takaichi’s administration is also pushing for revisions to the country’s policy framework to allow for a more proactive military posture, a shift condemned by China as a revival of the militaristic ideology that drove Japanese aggression during World War II. In an apparent reference to China on Sunday, Koizumi said Japan had neither nuclear weapons nor strategic bombers. “There is a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of such weapons. And yet Japan is labelled ‘new militarism’. Isn’t it strange?” Koizumi said.