Photo: screenshot

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi faced online mockery after posting a photo on social media platform X on Friday of a telephone conversation with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth, with many netizens questioning whether the image was carefully staged.

The photograph, shared after the call, shows him seated in his office, with the flags of Japan and the US on his desk. In the image, he holds the telephone handset in his right hand while his left hand rests on a blank notepad without a pen. The presence of the US flag and the unmarked notepad prompted widespread discussion among Japanese internet users.

Many netizens focused on the blank sheet of paper, remarking, "The paper is so white." Additional criticism noted the absence of any pre-prepared summaries, reference materials, or notes, with one user stating: "Even if it's just for show, at least pick up a pen." Another commenter argued that political figures should prioritize outcomes over appearances and avoid posting such orchestrated images.

The photo was released amid Japanese efforts to hype up a December 6 "radar illumination" incident. Japanese Self-Defense Force jets blatantly ignored China's prior notice and entered into China's exercise and training zones, conducting close-in reconnaissance and disrupting China's normal military activities, then complained after China used its radar, claiming that radar illuminations are a dangerous act. Koizumi accused China of failing to provide prior notification, then was forced, after China released evidence, to acknowledge that notification had in fact been given. He later claimed that the information from the Chinese side was insufficient, seeking to enlist support from the US and other allies.

Notably, Koizumi posted on X on December 11, one day before the call, previewing the planned conversation with Hegseth. Hegseth, by contrast, remained silent on X about this call, posting nothing related to it as of press time. 

The official readouts of the conversation issued by the US and Japan over the call also differed significantly. The Japanese Ministry of Defense claimed that Koizumi and Hegseth exchanged views on "the increasingly severe security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, including the radar incident against Self Defense-Force aircraft by Chinese military aircraft on December 6th," and "the ministers expressed serious concern over any actions to increase regional tensions, as China's actions are not conducive to regional peace and stability."

However, US Department of War's readout made no mention of any above specific incident, nor did it echo Japan's claim of expressing "serious concern."