China on Thursday voiced its concerns over Japan's move to expand its military role by endorsing three new bills, urging Japan to abide by its commitment not to be a military power.
Japan's cabinet on Tuesday endorsed the bills which were designed to give the Japanese government and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) more power in the case of foreign attack, and submitted them to the Diet (Japan's parliament) on Wednesday.
The move marked the first step by the Japanese government to compile what it calls "emergency legislation on war contingencies", aiming at easing restrictions on the SDF's use of weapons in the event of a military emergency.
"China is concerned about the act, so are other Asian countries," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said at a press briefing in Beijing.
Zhang said that as a result of historical reasons, Japan should sincerely abide by its commitments to limit its defense power to its own territory and coastal waters, and not to seek to be a big military power.
She urged Japan to stay on the track of peaceful development because "it is not only in the interests of Japan, but also vital to peace and stability in the region where it is located".
China Hopes East Timor Will Set up Independent State In Time
China hopes East Timor can in time achieve its goal of establishing an independent state, Zhang said.
Zhang made the remark in Beijing on Thursday in response to a journalist's question about East Timor's newly elected president Xanana Gusmao at the routine press briefing of the Foreign Ministry.
Zhang said that East Timor's independence movement leader Xanana Gusmao was elected president of East Timor on April 17, which indicated an important step forward in the independence process in East Timor.
Chinese President Jiang Zemin had extended congratulations to Gusmao on his victory in the first presidential election in East Timor, said Zhang, voicing her belief that East Timor could in time achieve its goal of establishing an independent state, with the efforts of the East Timorese people and the help of the world community.
China to Reopen Kunjirap Port to Pakistan
China will formally reopen its land port Kunjirap to Pakistan on May 1, according to the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
China had strengthened the administration of land ports to Pakistan since the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States last year and would continue to do so, Zhang said in response to a question on how to prevent Osama bin Laden from fleeing to China through the Kunjirap port.
China Rejoices With Ethiopia, Eritrea over Demarcation Deal
China rejoiced with Ethiopia and Eritrea over the two countries' acceptance of the demarcation arbitration defined by the Ethiopia and Eritrea Border Committee, said the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
Zhang said China always backed Ethiopia and Eritrea to peacefully resolve their border disputes through consultation and dialogue.
China hoped that the two countries would make joint efforts with the United Nations and other relevant sectors to have the arbitration effectively implemented, thus completely resolving the border disputes, said Zhang.
Moreover, Zhang said, China hoped that their efforts would contribute to prolonged peace between the two countries as well as unity and stability in the Horn of Africa, adding that China would always work with the international community to achieve that goal.
( April 19, 2002)
