China dismisses talk of military threat to Japan

BEIJING: China dismissed on Tuesday a Japanese newspaper report that Tokyo’s military had drawn up a defence plan citing the slight possibility of a Chinese invasion, saying it posed no threat to its neighbour. Any talk of a “China threat” was a product of “ulterior motives”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference, echoing Beijing’s standard line that the country is committed to peaceful development. The Asahi Shimbun reported on Monday that the Japanese defence plan, drawn up at a time of tense relations with Beijing, referred to a possible Chinese occupation of disputed islands known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China and Taiwan. “There is a dispute between China and Japan about the Diaoyus, but we hold negotiation is the appropriate way to resolve the problem,” Qin said. “Regarding the Diaoyu islands, China’s stance is clear and consistent: the Diaoyus and nearby islands are part of China’s territory,” he added. reuters

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