Takaichi aide battles China's fury over rearmament months after Japan PM's Taiwan war remark

Japan and China exchanged sharp words at the Shangri-La Dialogue as Tokyo rejected Beijing’s accusations of “new militarism” and defended its military modernization efforts. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi accused China of expanding its military power without sufficient transparency, while Chinese delegate Meng Xiangqing questioned Japan’s security intentions. The exchange comes amid rising tensions over Taiwan, the East China Sea, and regional security dynamics. Despite the rhetoric, Tokyo says it remains open to dialogue with Beijing to preserve stability in the Indo-Pacific.