LexisNexis(TM) Academic - Document
LexisNexis(TM) Academic - Document
Copyright 2005 The Financial Times Limited
Financial Times (London, England)
August 3, 2005 Wednesday
Asia Edition 1
SECTION: ASIA-PACIFIC; Pg. 2
LENGTH: 452 words
HEADLINE: Tokyo voices concern over China's development of deep-water fleet
BYLINE: By DAVID PILLING
DATELINE: TOKYO
BODY:
Japan yesterday fleshed out its concerns about China's growing military power, emphasising in its annual defence white paper what it said were Beijing's increasingly bold maritime ambitions.
The defence paper, which echoes concerns expressed about China's military build-up in a US Defense Department report last month, said Japan's public was "exceedingly concerned" about the intrusion of Chinese vessels, including a nuclear submarine, into Japanese waters. "Regarding the pick-up in China's maritime activity, the trends need to be watched," it said. "It has been pointed out that the Chinese navy is aiming to become a so-called 'blue-water navy'," it added, referring to development of a deep-water fleet.
Yoshinori Ohno, defence minister, said Japan did not see China as a threat. "But there are issues that require attention. We (also) urge China to improve its transparency," he added, reflecting a widespread belief in Tokyo that Beijing is spending more on its military build-up than it admits.
Japan's willingness to name China in a defence paper highlights increased tension between the countries over issues from interpretation of wartime history to ownership of disputed gas resources. In April anti-Japanese demonstrations in China brought Sino-Japanese relations to a new low. Yesterday conservative legislators and citizens risked increasing those tensions by urging Junichiro Koizumi, the prime minister, to visit the Yasukuni shrine on August 15. Yasukuni is reviled by China because it enshrines as "gods" 14 convicted war criminals alongside more than 2m fallen Japanese soldiers.
Beijing has made clear it does not want Mr Koizumi to visit Yasukuni, especially on August 15, the 60th anniversary of Japan's surrender. The present and former emperor have stopped visiting Yasukuni since the convicted war criminals, including wartime prime minister Hideki Tojo, were enshrined in 1978.
Takeo Hiranuma, former trade minister, who heads one of the concerned groups, said: "The argument by some people that this will lead to militarism is wrong. Since Mr Koizumi made a promise, I want him to pay homage on August 15 in a dignified manner."
Yasuhiro Tase, of the Nikkei newspaper, said the prime minister's advisers told him not to visit Yasukuni. "But you can never tell what Koizumi will do."
More than half of Japan's public opposes Mr Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni, according to opinion polls, although there is a strong body of opinion that argues Japan needs to stand up to perceived Chinese bullying. What is seen as Beijing's diplomatic bullying was brought up in the white paper, which referred to China's anti-secession law. Tokyo fears Beijing's stance could make Taiwan a dangerous flashpoint.
LOAD-DATE: August 2, 2005
Copyright 2005 The Financial Times Limited
Financial Times (London, England)
August 3, 2005 Wednesday
Asia Edition 1
SECTION: ASIA-PACIFIC; Pg. 2
LENGTH: 452 words
HEADLINE: Tokyo voices concern over China's development of deep-water fleet
BYLINE: By DAVID PILLING
DATELINE: TOKYO
BODY:
Japan yesterday fleshed out its concerns about China's growing military power, emphasising in its annual defence white paper what it said were Beijing's increasingly bold maritime ambitions.
The defence paper, which echoes concerns expressed about China's military build-up in a US Defense Department report last month, said Japan's public was "exceedingly concerned" about the intrusion of Chinese vessels, including a nuclear submarine, into Japanese waters. "Regarding the pick-up in China's maritime activity, the trends need to be watched," it said. "It has been pointed out that the Chinese navy is aiming to become a so-called 'blue-water navy'," it added, referring to development of a deep-water fleet.
Yoshinori Ohno, defence minister, said Japan did not see China as a threat. "But there are issues that require attention. We (also) urge China to improve its transparency," he added, reflecting a widespread belief in Tokyo that Beijing is spending more on its military build-up than it admits.
Japan's willingness to name China in a defence paper highlights increased tension between the countries over issues from interpretation of wartime history to ownership of disputed gas resources. In April anti-Japanese demonstrations in China brought Sino-Japanese relations to a new low. Yesterday conservative legislators and citizens risked increasing those tensions by urging Junichiro Koizumi, the prime minister, to visit the Yasukuni shrine on August 15. Yasukuni is reviled by China because it enshrines as "gods" 14 convicted war criminals alongside more than 2m fallen Japanese soldiers.
Beijing has made clear it does not want Mr Koizumi to visit Yasukuni, especially on August 15, the 60th anniversary of Japan's surrender. The present and former emperor have stopped visiting Yasukuni since the convicted war criminals, including wartime prime minister Hideki Tojo, were enshrined in 1978.
Takeo Hiranuma, former trade minister, who heads one of the concerned groups, said: "The argument by some people that this will lead to militarism is wrong. Since Mr Koizumi made a promise, I want him to pay homage on August 15 in a dignified manner."
Yasuhiro Tase, of the Nikkei newspaper, said the prime minister's advisers told him not to visit Yasukuni. "But you can never tell what Koizumi will do."
More than half of Japan's public opposes Mr Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni, according to opinion polls, although there is a strong body of opinion that argues Japan needs to stand up to perceived Chinese bullying. What is seen as Beijing's diplomatic bullying was brought up in the white paper, which referred to China's anti-secession law. Tokyo fears Beijing's stance could make Taiwan a dangerous flashpoint.
LOAD-DATE: August 2, 2005
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