Japan's top defense official urges China to work on transparency

TOKYO, Jan. 26 Kyodo -
Japan's top Defense Ministry bureaucrat on Monday urged China to make its
defense policy more transparent, saying that doing so would help peace and
stability in the region.
''I want to give China credit for its measured effort at enhancing transparency
in its national defense,'' Vice Defense Minister Kohei Masuda said, referring
to the new descriptions on modernization efforts by the People's Liberation
Army added to the country's just-released defense report.
The official noted, however, that he still sees as insufficient details in the
biennial paper, such as defense-budget breakdowns, equipment quantities and
procurement plans.
''While there may have been measured progress overall, it is still a far cry
from what we have disclosed,'' he told a regular news conference.
Masuda urged China to work to make its defense policy and military strength
more transparent because doing so is important from the viewpoint of peace and
stability, as well as confidence-building in the region.
In a notable change, the latest report did not mention moves within Japan to
revise its war-renouncing Constitution. It instead noted bilateral military
exchanges, saying, ''China-Japan defense relations have made headway.''
The top ministry bureaucrat said it is necessary for both countries to discuss
each other's defense policy to enhance transparency and build confidence
between them, calling China ''our important neighbor.''
''I recognize that there is certainly such thinking on the Chinese part, as
well,'' he said.
Last Tuesday China disclosed its sixth defense policy report, which said the
country's defense budget for 2008 totaled 417.77 billion yuan.
China, whose defense budget has made double-digit growth for the last 20 years,
has often been criticized for a lack of transparency in its defense-related
spending.
==Kyodo