December 10, 2004 :: Kyodo :: News
Japan recently released its new defense policy outline, which for the first time names Communist China as a concern and possible threat. North Korea is also so named, but China has reacted violently to their being included—a reaction which, in combination with the facts of China’s ambitious military buildup, confirms the validity of Japan’s defense articulation. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue expressed China’s “strong dissatisfaction” that Japan had officially spoken of the China threat in an official document, and called the accusation “baseless and irresponsible.”
Last month, a Chinese submarine penetrated Japanese waters.
Excerpts from the outline:
China, which has a great impact on security in this region, is pushing ahead with enhancing its nuclear and missile capabilities in modernizing its navy and air force while expanding marine activities. We need to continue to watch these moves in the future.
North Korea is developing, deploying and proliferating weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles and maintains large-scale special units. These military moves of North Korea are serious, destabilizing factors for regional security.
By contrast, the document reaffirmed Japan’s defensive alliance with the United States, calling it “indispensable.”
(Article)» China reacts to Japanese defense document
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