Japan's foreign minister has said China is becoming a "considerable threat" because of its increased military spending and nuclear weapons, in comments that have sparked a fresh row between the neighbors. China is "a neighboring country with one billion people and nuclear bombs whose military spending has been growing by two digits every year for 17 consecutive years," Foreign Minister Taro Aso told reporters.
"And the content of that is extremely unclear. If I say what this means, I recognize that it is becoming a considerable threat," he said.
Aso, an outspoken hawk appointed in late October, made the comment when asked about the recent remark by Seiji Maehara, the conservative head of the main opposition Democratic Party, that China is a "realistic threat". "As Mr Maehara put it, it is true that (China) is stirring up a threat and worries," he said.
China reacted angrily, saying its economic might was benefiting Japan. "As a foreign minister, to so irresponsibly incite such groundless rhetoric about a China threat, what is the purpose?" foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular briefing. "China's development has made commonly acknowledged contributions towards the world's peace and stability, bringing East Asian countries, including Japan, great development opportunities," he said in Beijing.
Aso's remarks came just after the release of a new Chinese government paper reiterating that Beijing intends to become a peaceful world power. |