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Koizumi: Japan a peace-loving country
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-01-19 07:54
Still, in a statement released at the convention, LDP promised to "strengthen
stable and cooperative relations with Asian countries'' as well as cement
Japan's alliance with the United States.
Japan minister: China a military threat
Also on Wednesday, Japanese Farm Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said at a news
conference that China and North Korea pose military threats to Japan, the
Reuters reported.
"There are military threats against Japan...and Japan is conducting its
defence while having equal relations with the United States, based on the
US-Japan alliance," Nakagawa told a news conference.
"Specifically, North Korea and China," he added.
This is not the first time that Nakagawa, who is known for his hardline views
towards China and North Korea, has taken a verbal swipe at Beijing. Last April,
Nakagawa, who was Japan's trade minister at the time, referred to China as a
"scary country" after anti-Japanese demonstrations in major Chinese cities.
Thousands of Chinese joined demonstrations at the time protesting against
what they saw as Japan's failure to own up to atrocities before and during World
War Two.
Nakagawa's latest remarks came after Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said
last month that China's military build-up was a threat given its lack of
transparency.
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