BEIJING -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang refuted on Thursday a
Japanese remark that China's "growing military spending" has posed a threat to
Japan.
Qin said China had stated its stance on the military spending issue many
times.
"China follows the policy of 'building friendship and partnership with
neighboring countries' and its development will pose no threat to any country,"
said Qin.
A journalist asked Qin to comment the remark made by Japan's new Defense
Agency director general Kyuma Fumio that China's growing military spending posed
a threat to Japan.
Qin said China was opposed to the use of China's military spending to play up
"China threat" remark.
"We hope the Japanese side will do more things and make more remarks that are
conducive to the improvement and development of China-Japan relations," said
Qin.
Qin also noted a report that Kyuma Fumio said the military alliance between
Japan and the United States was to check China and prepare for any contingency
concerning the Taiwan Strait.
Qin said the Japan-US military alliance was a bilateral arrangement
established during the Cold War and it should be strictly limited to a bilateral
domain.
"If it exceeds a bilateral domain, the alliance will arouse upset among its
neighboring countries and add unsteadiness to regional security," said Qin.
He said the inclusion of Taiwan directly or indirectly in the scope of
Japan-US military cooperation violated China's sovereignty and interfering in
China internal affairs.
South Korean President Roh Moo hyun agreed on Thursday to hold summit talks
with Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at an appropriate time.
When asked to confirm the possibility of a China-Japan summit, Qin said
China's stance on the meeting between Chinese and Japanese leaders was
"consistent and clear".
He said China attached great importance to the improvement and development of
relations with Japan and was willing to make joint efforts with the Japanese
side in this regard.
China-Japan relationship is a very important bilateral relationship and its
smooth development is in the interests of both countries and also conducive to
regional peace and stability, said Qin, adding the international community was
very concerned about the difficulty in the relationship.
