Japan's Defense Minister Questions Credibility of China's Defense Budget in War of Words

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on the 17th questioned the accuracy of China's published defense budget data. This comes as a new, forceful response from the Japanese government at a time when Beijing has recently accused Japan of promoting a "new militarism."

In an interview with Bloomberg, Koizumi made these remarks while also noting, "Our budget is debated and scrutinized in parliament." Regarding the data published by China, he stated, "Is it truly based on facts? Is there sufficient evidence to support it? Does it possess a high degree of transparency? When outsiders raise doubts about these issues, how much effort do they put into explaining them?"

This is Koizumi's first interview with foreign media since assuming the post of Defense Minister.

Western governments generally suspect that China's published defense budget does not fully reflect its actual military expenditures. As a result, these figures cannot be directly compared with the defense spending disclosed by other nations. The US Department of Defense assessed last December that China's actual defense spending in 2024 was 32% to 63% higher than its announced budget of $231 billion.

The Pentagon's estimates encompass items such as the paramilitary People's Armed Police, local security, veterans affairs spending, national defense mobilization activities, defense-related research and development investments, and military capital expenditures.

Beijing authorities, on the other hand, have repeatedly rebutted external suspicions regarding a lack of transparency and have yet to respond to Koizumi's recent queries.

Bloomberg analyzes that Koizumi's remarks indicate the Japanese government is amplifying its criticism of China. At the same time, Beijing continues to pressure Japan over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks regarding Taiwan, demanding that she retract statements she made last year.