During the government's second term Tizard retained only the Science and Technology portfolio, but was also appointed Minister of Defence from 1987 to 1990. During this term he celebrated the milestone 30 years as a Member of Parliament. As Minister of Defence he pushed for the approval of purchasing four new Anzac-class frigates which was contentious due to significant opposition to the idea from the Labour Party membership. In 1989 he caused controversy when he said the recently deceased Japanese Emperor Hirohito was a war criminal who should have been "shot or publicly chopped up" at the end of World War II.