Japan’s Koizumi Defends Removal of Arms Exports Ban

Singapore, May 31 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Sunday the recent revisions of the country’s three principles on defense equipment transfers and their implementation guidelines, which have basically made its arms exports possible, will help boost deterrence in the region. In an address at the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore, Koizumi rebutted China’s criticism of the move by Japan as representing its neo-militarism, saying that the Chinese argument is wrong. Regarding arms exports, Koizumi cited the need to ensure that necessary equipment and capabilities are secured seamlessly in the whole region. He also stressed the importance of avoiding a situation in which necessary equipment is in short supply or supplies are not sustainable in times of crises. Japan wants to be a partner so that each country can defend itself on its own and make contributions to the region, he said, seeking understanding for the revisions of the three principles on defense equipment transfers and the implementation guidelines. It is strange for a country possessing a large number of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers to criticize Japan, which has neither of them, as pursuing neo-militarism, Koizumi said, apparently referring to China while avoiding naming it. The path that Japan has followed as a peace-loving nation has been highly evaluated by the region and the international community, and this truth will never be shaken by false claims, he said. Apparently with China in mind, Koizumi said that military coercion is intensifying in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and that the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region is becoming increasingly severe, calling for the strengthening of coordination among like-minded countries. Noting progress in defense cooperation between Japan and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Koizumi said that Japan is keen to have these moves encompass the whole of the region. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]