On August 3, 2005, Daily Yomiuri in Japan re****ted on the latest Japan
defense white paper "Defense of Japan 2005". The re****t points out
that it was necessary to closely monitor China's increasing defense
spending and the modernization of its military.
Read the full article in
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20050803TDY01003.htm
and a corresponding Japanese editorial in
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/news/20050802ig90.htm
An outline of the article regarding China:
* The white paper says, "Japan will cautiously continue
efforts to determine whether the scope of China's
modernization of its military goes beyond what is
necessary for it to defend itself."
* The do***ent refers at length to China's recent moves
to expand its military activities, including its
increasing nuclear and missile arsenal. "China's
military spending in the current fiscal year has
increased 12.6 percent from the previous fiscal year,"
"It has been increasing by more than 10 percent a year
over 17 consecutive years, and the disclosed military
spending in the current fiscal year is about twice the
size of the budget in 2000 and three times that of
1997."
* "China is not a threat to Japan, but there are issues
that require attention...... and we urge China to
improve its transparency," Defense Agency Director
General Yo****nori Ono said.
Read the complete text of "Defense of Japan 2005" (Japanese) in
http://jda-clearing.jda.go.jp/hakusho_data/2005/w2005_00.html
