China urges Japan to stick to 'purely defensive defense' strategy

Liu Jianchao (2nd R), China's assistant foreign minister, shakes hands with Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama (2nd L) during a meeting in Tokyo, Japan, March 19, 2015. Foreign and defense officials from China and Japan kicked off a high-level security meeting here on Thursday, the first one between the two sides in more than four years. (Xinhua/Liu Tian)

China hopes Japan could stick to its decades-long "purely defensive defense" strategy and have an objective and rational perception on China's development, a Chinese delegation said at a China-Japan security dialogue in Tokyo on Thursday.

The delegation, led by Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao, also expressed concerns over Japan's security moves in recent years and expected Tokyo to adhere to a path of peaceful development and play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Japan overhauled its defense stance since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in late 2012 by lifting bans on weapons exports, reinterpreting its pacifist constitution to allow its Self-Defense Forces to exercise right to collective self-defense and boosting defense budget.

The delegation told the Japanese side at the security dialogue, the first one in more than four years, that China upholds the principle of peaceful development and will stick to and benefit from the path, adding that Beijing proposes a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept and will continue to contribute to the regional and world peace and stability.

Briefing the country's defense and security policies, the Japanese side said further exchanges on the security issue help improve mutual trust between the two countries and are of significance to further enhance bilateral ties, according to the Chinese delegation.

The two sides agreed to intensify dialogue and communication on the basis of equality and steadily push forward security cooperation so as to improve bilateral strategic relationship of mutual benefit.

Liu said it is important to keep dialogue between the two countries' foreign and defense ministries as the two sides are important neighbors and regional powers, adding the meeting is also of significance to maintain regional peace.

China-Japan relations witnessed a turning point last year with the signing of a four-point agreement, adding Beijing hopes to develop ties with Tokyo in the spirit of "taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future," he said.

Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama said Japan- China ties gradually improved since last year as the two sides agreed to establish air and maritime emergency contact mechanism and high-level negotiations over maritime issue.

The two sides should talk directly so as to resolve problems existing in their ties and carry out relevant cooperation through talks, he noted.

Senior officials from both sides' defense ministries also took part in the meeting.

The talks, launched in 1993, were last held in Beijing in January 2011 but were suspended due to Japan's unilateral move to "nationalize" China's Diaoyu Islands. China-Japan ties are frayed due to the territorial dispute as well as historical issues.

Also on Thursday, the two sides also held their regular consultation between foreign ministries and exchanged views on China-Japan relations and related issues.