Koizumi: Japan a peace-loving country
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-01-19 07:54

Still, in a statement released at the convention, LDP promised to "strengthen stable and cooperative relations with Asian countries'' as well as cement Japan's alliance with the United States.

Japan minister: China a military threat

Also on Wednesday, Japanese Farm Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said at a news conference that China and North Korea pose military threats to Japan, the Reuters reported.

"There are military threats against Japan...and Japan is conducting its defence while having equal relations with the United States, based on the US-Japan alliance," Nakagawa told a news conference.

"Specifically, North Korea and China," he added.

This is not the first time that Nakagawa, who is known for his hardline views towards China and North Korea, has taken a verbal swipe at Beijing. Last April, Nakagawa, who was Japan's trade minister at the time, referred to China as a "scary country" after anti-Japanese demonstrations in major Chinese cities.

Thousands of Chinese joined demonstrations at the time protesting against what they saw as Japan's failure to own up to atrocities before and during World War Two.

Nakagawa's latest remarks came after Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said last month that China's military build-up was a threat given its lack of transparency.