Article Posted on : - Aug 04, 2011

A file photo.

BEIJING (PTI): China Thursday voiced "strong opposition" to a Japanese defence paper that warned against its growing military power, claiming that Tokyo acted in an irresponsible manner with ulterior motives.

"China unswervingly adheres to the path of peaceful development, sticks to the policy of building friendship and partnership with neighbouring countries as well as pursues the defensive nature of its national defence policy," Defence Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said, reacting to the 2011 Japanese White Paper released two days ago in Tokyo.

China is modernising its national defence systems and armed forces only to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity and to ensure the smooth development of its economy and society, Geng said.

"We hope the Japanese side will take into consideration the overall situation of China-Japan relations and make more efforts to build mutual trust with its neighbours and safeguard the region's peace and stability," he was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

The Japanese White Paper played up the "China threat theory" with ulterior motives, the spokesman alleged, expressing "strong opposition".

Earlier yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu expressed China's "strong dissatisfaction" over the White Paper, stating that Japanese defence report contained "irresponsible comments."

"China's development has brought great opportunities to every country in the world, including Japan," he said, adding that China has never and will not attempt to threaten any country.

"We hope the Japanese side will use history as a guide and reflect on its defence policy earnestly, and make more efforts to enhance mutual trust with its neighbours," Ma said.

The 2011 Japan Defence White Paper has criticised China's defence ability buildup.

"Given the modernisation of China's naval and air forces in recent years, its sphere of influence is likely to grow beyond its neighbouring waters," the report said.

"It is expected that China will try to keep expanding the area of activities, and to make naval activities a routine practice in waters surrounding Japan, including the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, as well as in the South China Sea," the White Paper said.

The report, approved by Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan's Cabinet, described China's stance in its maritime territorial disputes with its neighbours as "assertive".