Japan’s defence outreach to counter China’s military rise hits hidden roadblocks

Japan seized the spotlight at last month’s Shangri-La Dialogue, stepping into a vacuum left by the Chinese defence chief – who skipped the forum for a second year – and using the stage to sharpen its warnings over Beijing’s military rise.

Speaking in Singapore on May 31, the final day of the security forum, Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi pushed back against Beijing’s accusation that Japan is engaging in a “new militarism” and instead took aim at China’s growing military capabilities...