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Chinese military lashes out at Japanese defense documents
BEIJING -- Chinese military on Friday accused Japan of using the pretext of safeguarding its own national security and regional peace for military expansion.The Japanese government approved its first national security strategy on Tuesday. Based on it, new defense program guidelines and a mid-term defense buildup plan were also adopted. "China is firmly opposed to Japan's relevant actions," said Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng in a statement. He said the three documents aimed at playing up the "China's military threat", increasing regional tensions and using the pretext of safeguarding Japan's own national security and regional peace for its military expansion. In its new defense program guidelines, Japan gave up the policy of building of a moderate self-defense force and proposed to revise the "Three Principles on Arms Exports". Japan also planned to purchase advanced armament like F-35 stealth fighters, surveillance drone fleet and Aegis destroyers and tried to form a fast-response-amphibious unit, said Geng. Japan has on the one hand claimed to strengthen international coordination, safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and make efforts to ensure security and prosperity of the international community, but on the other hand it sticked to the Cold War mentality and beefed up military alliance with relevant countries, he said. "We urged Japan to make deep introspection on its history, honor its commitment to peaceful development, and try to improve its relations with Asian neighbors with concrete actions, so as to play a constructive role in safeguarding regional peace and stability," Geng said. Posted by: Steve White 2013-12-22 |
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