ID :
186460
Sat, 06/04/2011 - 18:42
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https://oananews.org//node/186460
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Japan, China agree to resume full-fledged defense exchanges
SINGAPORE, June 4 Kyodo -
Japan's Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie agreed Saturday to resume full-fledged bilateral defense exchanges after such activities were disrupted due to maritime collisions between a Chinese trawler and Japanese patrol ships last year.
During bilateral talks on the sidelines of an Asian security forum in Singapore, the two ministers also confirmed a plan to arrange for Kitazawa to visit China as early as this summer, according to Japanese officials.
Kitazawa thanked China for its assistance to Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami which devastated mostly northeastern Japan, saying the two countries are ''good neighbors that help each other in times of need'' and expressing hope to continue deepening mutual understanding.
The two defense ministers also agreed to expedite working level talks on arranging a maritime communication system and to hold a vice defense ministerial meeting soon to prevent contingencies between their countries from occurring in the East China Sea, the officials said.
China suspended defense exchanges with Japan in protest against the arrest by Japanese authorities of the Chinese captain of the trawler following the vessel's collisions with Japan Coast Guard patrol ships last September off the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
As part of efforts to mend soured ties, the two countries were scheduled to hold the vice defense ministerial meeting in March, but it was postponed following the major natural disaster in Japan.
In a separate meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, Kitazawa expressed concern over Russia's plan for military expansion on islands claimed by Japan, saying Russia also bears a ''big responsibility'' for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, the officials said.
Ivanov emphasized the need to improve the livelihoods of people living on the islands, but did not provide an explanation about Russia's plan to build up its military there, they said.
Tokyo and Moscow have been at odds over ownership of the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet group, which were seized by the Soviet Union following Japan's surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945.
The territorial dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a postwar peace treaty. The islands are known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils.
Kitazawa expressed appreciation toward Russia's aid to Japan following the massive earthquake and tsunami and explained how the Japanese government has been dealing with the disaster-triggered nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.
Ivanov mentioned 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and said Russia is prepared to offer support as it has an organ that deals with atomic power accidents, according to the officials.
Kitazawa also held bilateral talks with his counterparts from South Korea, Australia, Singapore and Vietnam and thanked them for their postdisaster assistance.
==Kyodo
Japan's Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie agreed Saturday to resume full-fledged bilateral defense exchanges after such activities were disrupted due to maritime collisions between a Chinese trawler and Japanese patrol ships last year.
During bilateral talks on the sidelines of an Asian security forum in Singapore, the two ministers also confirmed a plan to arrange for Kitazawa to visit China as early as this summer, according to Japanese officials.
Kitazawa thanked China for its assistance to Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami which devastated mostly northeastern Japan, saying the two countries are ''good neighbors that help each other in times of need'' and expressing hope to continue deepening mutual understanding.
The two defense ministers also agreed to expedite working level talks on arranging a maritime communication system and to hold a vice defense ministerial meeting soon to prevent contingencies between their countries from occurring in the East China Sea, the officials said.
China suspended defense exchanges with Japan in protest against the arrest by Japanese authorities of the Chinese captain of the trawler following the vessel's collisions with Japan Coast Guard patrol ships last September off the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
As part of efforts to mend soured ties, the two countries were scheduled to hold the vice defense ministerial meeting in March, but it was postponed following the major natural disaster in Japan.
In a separate meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, Kitazawa expressed concern over Russia's plan for military expansion on islands claimed by Japan, saying Russia also bears a ''big responsibility'' for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, the officials said.
Ivanov emphasized the need to improve the livelihoods of people living on the islands, but did not provide an explanation about Russia's plan to build up its military there, they said.
Tokyo and Moscow have been at odds over ownership of the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet group, which were seized by the Soviet Union following Japan's surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945.
The territorial dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a postwar peace treaty. The islands are known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils.
Kitazawa expressed appreciation toward Russia's aid to Japan following the massive earthquake and tsunami and explained how the Japanese government has been dealing with the disaster-triggered nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.
Ivanov mentioned 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and said Russia is prepared to offer support as it has an organ that deals with atomic power accidents, according to the officials.
Kitazawa also held bilateral talks with his counterparts from South Korea, Australia, Singapore and Vietnam and thanked them for their postdisaster assistance.
==Kyodo
