China says national defense policy not a threat to anyone+

BEIJING, Dec. 17 Kyodo -
Responding to Japan's newly adopted defense policy Friday that said China's
military development is a matter of regional and international concern, the
Chinese Foreign Ministry denied the country's national defense policy is a
threat to any countries and slammed Tokyo's views over China's development as
''irresponsible.''
''China adheres to a path of peaceful development and pursues a national
defense policy that is defensive in nature,'' spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a
response posted on the ministry website. ''It is not our intention to threaten,
nor does it constitute a threat to anyone.''
Japan had in a new defense policy outline adopted Friday expressed increased
concerns about China's military rise and introduced a new defense posture
enabling more flexible responses to threats including terrorism and North
Korean missiles, while beefing up security around its remote islands.
The National Defense Program Guidelines also described China's military rise
and other actions such as its increasing naval activities around Japan's
southwestern islands as a ''matter of concern for the region and the
international community.''
But Jiang said Tokyo's remarks on China's development were irresponsible and it
had no right to represent the international community in its views.
''Individual countries have no right to represent the international community
and make irresponsible remarks on China's development,'' Jiang said.
She added that Japan is among countries that have benefited from the
''tremendous opportunities for shared prosperity'' that China's development has
brought.
==Kyodo