【澳大利亚人报】Japan bolsters forces amid Chinese military splurge

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Japan bolsters forces amid Chinese military splurge
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25416702-31477,00.html
Mark Dodd and Debbie Guest   May 02, 2009               

                                                                                                                              
JAPANESEForeign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone has thrown his support behindgrowing regional alarm about China's military build-up, concernsreflected in the priority given to the navy and air force in thedefence white paper.

Last September Kevin Ruddforeshadowed a substantial boost in defence capital equipment, citingconcerns about an "explosion" in military spending in Asia, notably inChina and India.

The white paper, the first since 2000, recommends a doubling of thenavy's submarine fleet and the acquisition of cruise missiles capableof striking targets up to 2500km away.

Speaking in Perth yesterday, Mr Nakasone said Tokyo was worried about China's splurge on defence.

"Certainly in relation to China, as you've indicated over the last21 years, China has continued to increase its military expenditure indouble-digit figures, and from the point of view of the region it is anissue of some concern," he said.

On defence spending, Mr Nakasone said: "I think there always needsto be a certain degree of transparency in these matters and I thinkit's also important that countries - and I make no reference toparticular countries - but countries endeavour not to cause concern totheir neighbours."

No formal response from Jakarta was available yesterday althoughAbdillah Toha, a senior official of the National Mandate Party, warnedCanberra not to meddle with Indonesia's territorial integrity: areference to the 1999 Australian-led military intervention in EastTimor.

"After all, (Indonesia) should not get involved in (Australia's)internal affairs," he said. "If we're going to continue to worktogether dealing with regional security issues, including illegalfishing, I think that's great."

The Weekend Australian understands that China has not given anyofficial response to its briefing on the white paper and it is highlyunlikely the country will issue a public comment.

Chinese leader Hu Jintao has reaffirmed his country's military plans are entirely defensive.

There are concerns in China about its relationship with Australiabut they are broader than just defence and include Chinese investment.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said no country need worry about the defence white paper's recommendations.

"It will be the first white paper that Australia has produced in nearly a decade," he said.

"It is of course not aimed at any particular nation, it is a defencewhite paper that will map out Australia's national security interests."

Additional reporting: Stephen Fitzpatrick, Michael Sainsbury

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