Japan, China defense chiefs affirm importance of avoiding conflicts

HANOI, Oct. 11 (Kyodo) - Japanese and Chinese defense chiefs reaffirmed Monday the importance of establishing early a bilateral liaison mechanism to prevent conflicts at sea, keeping in mind the disputed Senkaku Islands, and agreed on promoting strategic
mutually beneficial relations, Japanese officials said.
In their meeting at a hotel in the Vietnamese capital where a regional defense
ministers' meeting is being held, Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa
and his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie met for the first time since the
Sept. 7 maritime collisions between a Chinese trawler and Japanese patrol boats
near the islands in the East China Sea.
The first bilateral ministerial meeting comes after Japanese Prime Minister
Naoto Kan and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao agreed in Brussels on Oct. 4 to mend
bilateral ties which have been strained since the collisions. The latest
meeting was rather unusual in that it was conducted at a hotel lobby following
a Chinese request for ''an informal talk.''
Liang said the meeting with Kitazawa went very well, Reuters news agency
reported. ''The talks were very good,'' he told reporters. Asked what impact
his discussion with Kitazawa would have on bilateral relations, he replied,
''Of course, it will be positive,'' according to Reuters.
During their talks, Kitazawa was quoted as saying, ''While various problems may
arise between Japan and China, it is important to make efforts at creating
early a liaison mechanism that would prevent fraying.'' Liang said it is
important to make achievements in this area as soon as possible, the officials
said.
The Chinese national defense minister, however, maintained a restrained
position about fully resuming bilateral exchanges in defense matters.
He indicated that a port call by a Japanese defense ship in Qindao scheduled
for Oct. 15 will have to be postponed, the Japanese officials said.
The Chinese National Defense Ministry communicated the postponement of the port
call to the Japanese Defense Ministry on Sunday, according to a source
accompanying Kitazawa.
In his talks with Liang, Kitazawa requested that the port call be allowed by
making ''a judgment from a grand perspective'' but Liang was reluctant to
accept the request, saying the Chinese people's current sentiment toward Japan
should be taken into consideration.
Kitazawa expressed his wish to visit China by the end of this year for talks
with Liang again but Liang said such a visit should be made when mutually
beneficial relations are restored fully.
On the trawler-patrol boat collisions, Kitazawa was quoted as telling Liang
that his ''position has already been communicated and it is not productive to
discuss it here.'' Regarding Japan's actions, Liang said he is happy
appropriate procedures were taken and he would like to see differences in views
be resolved through dialogue and consultations.