By Xinhua,
Singapore : Japanese Defense Minister ShigeruIshiba told an Asian security conference here Saturday that his country will work harder for the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by exerting further efforts for continuing the Six-Party Talks.
He made the remarks at the 7th Asian Security Summit hosted by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.
He said, “Japan does not have any plan whatsoever to become a nuclear power today or in the future,” adding that “It is not nuclear armament that Japan should pursue.”
He also called for international cooperation to fight against terrorism.
The conference, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, started here Friday for a three-day run. It brought together defense ministers and other top defense officials from 27 countries, including U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Ma Xiaotian.
At the same forum, South Korean Minister of national defense Lee Sang-Hee also called on the international community to join efforts to fight traditional and non-traditional security threats in Northeast Asia, such as terrorism and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
While traditional sources of threat such as localized conflicts are not likely to cease around the world, “non-traditional and non-military threats such as terrorism, WMD proliferation, international crimes and mega-type natural disasters are on the rise,” Lee said.
But one country will not be able to completely contain these threats without the support and cooperation of the international community.
“I would like to ask you for your continued support and cooperation for the continued security of the Republic of Korea…For its part, the Republic of Korea will always stand ready to heed the calls of the international community to contribute to world peace,” he said.