China 'not a military threat'

2007-08-30 13:52

Tokyo - China's defence chief called on Thursday for a ban on the military use of space and dismantlement of all nuclear weapons, saying that Beijing's own work in the two areas posed no threat.

General Cao Gangchuan, paying the first visit by a Chinese defence minister to Japan in nearly a decade, said that closer military exchanges between the countries, which often have rocky relations, would benefit the region.

"Those who speak of the theory of China as a military threat are ignorant of the true situation and their claims are unfounded," Cao said in an address to invited officials and politicians.

In January, China became the third country after the United States and the former Soviet Union to shoot down an object in space, a test that rattled Washington, Tokyo and other nations.

"China is not the first one to conduct such an experiment. As you are well aware, other countries have done similar tests," Cao said through a translator.

"This test was done only once, and it was purely experimental. It was not targeting any third party," he said.

"China is against the military use of space. Personally, I believe the best thing is to gather everyone involved to hold close discussions and to create a treaty totally banning military use of space. The best thing is for everyone to obey that treaty," he said.

China shot down its own weather satellite after the United States, which has suspended "Star Wars" tests, refused a permanent ban on future experiments.

Cao also said Japan should not worry about China's nuclear weapons.

"China does hold missiles and nuclear weapons. But they are for defence purposes," he said. "China wants to see total nuclear disarmament."

He added that China's rapid rise was not without challenges.

"Although development in China has reached a certain point, the fact remains the nation has a huge population, weak infrastructure and development is unbalanced," he said.

- AFP