Japan's defence minister denies militarism and criticises China's 'huge arsenal'

Shinjiro Koizumi makes some of Tokyo's most pointed remarks yet in the dispute over Japan's military build-up.

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Shinjiro Koizumi argued it was actually China and its "huge arsenal" of weapons that was of "serious concern" to the international community.

His remarks, on the last day of a defence summit in Singapore, were some of the most pointed yet from Tokyo in response to China's repeated criticism of Japan's military build-up under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The two countries have a long history of tensions stemming from Japan's invasion of China during World War Two.

Last week, a day before the Singapore summit began, China's national defence ministry spokesman Jiang Bin had warned "the grey rhino of a remilitarised Japan is gathering speed" and called on the international community to "work together to contain Japan's neo-militarism".