By IANS,
Beijing : China Thursday expressed “strong opposition” to Japan’s 2011 defence white paper, saying the document plays up the “China threat theory” and has ulterior motives.
Defence ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng made the remark while responding to a question on the white paper released Tuesday by the Japanese government, reported Xinhua.
The “Defence of Japan 2011” report states that “attention needs to be paid” to the Chinese military’s recent maritime activities, japantimes.co.jp reported.
“China’s future actions are worrisome, given what can be interpreted as its overbearing ways to address its clashing interests with neighbouring countries, including Japan,” the Japan paper says.
The Chinese defence ministry spokesperson said: “China unswervingly adheres to the path of peaceful development, sticks to the policy of building friendship and partnership with neighbouring countries and pursues the defensive nature of its national defence policy.”
China is modernising its national defence systems and armed forces only to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and to ensure the smooth development of its economy and society, Geng added.