Beijing’s ‘Militarist’ Label for Japan Fits China Instead, Defense Experts Say
Taiwanese defense scholars said China's surging budget, opaque spending, and fast-expanding nuclear arsenal make it, not Japan, the region's true militarist.
TL;DR
- China's delegation at the Shangri-La Dialogue accused Japan of sliding back toward militarism.
- Japan's defense minister rejected the accusation, citing China's rapid and non-transparent military expansion.
- Taiwanese defense scholars stated that China, not Japan, fits the description of a militarist nation.
- The scholars pointed to China's increasing military budget, opaque spending, and expanding nuclear arsenal as reasons for their assessment.