China urges Japan to maintain regional peace

BEIJING - China urges Japan to face up to history and reality and make efforts to maintain regional peace and stability, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the comments when asked to respond to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's remarks Tuesday in which he expressed concern about China's rising military spending.

Abe on Tuesday signed an agreement with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to enhance ties with the alliance during his visit to the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

The Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program (IPCP) signed by Abe and Rasmussen is aimed at strengthening political dialogue and practical cooperation between the alliance and Japan, said NATO.

Hua said China urges Japan to take a responsible attitude to win the trust of the international community and choose peaceful development.

Hua said some Japanese leaders have moved to amend the country's constitution and expand armed forces recently, in addition to hyping the "China threat" theory.

"If they think what they have done can fool the world, they underestimate the wisdom and judgement of people around the world, " Hua said.

Hua said that, historically and currently, it is not China that has used armed forces to illegally occupy the territory of other countries.

Some Japanese leaders have created regional tensions and stirred up conflict and confrontation, Hua said, adding that their real purpose is to try to push the limits of military security and make Japan into a military power without restrictions, Hua said.