Japanese government's criticisms of China's national defense are "irrational," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said at a regular press briefing yesterday.

Zhang was responding to a white paper on national defense recently issued in Japan that expressed concerns about China's military capabilities.

"China has always pursued an independent foreign policy of peace and its military expenditures have been kept at a low level relative to other large countries," Zhang said.

China regrets the "wanton remarks" by the Japanese government in its official publication, she said.

Turning to reports that the US will hold missile defense tests tomorrow, Zhang observed that the US insists on developing a missile defense system despite the universal disapproval and reservations of the international community.

The proposed US missile defense system violates the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty and is not conducive to global strategic balance and stability, she added.

The spokeswoman also revealed that Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met yesterday with Iraqi Oil Minister Amir Muhammad Rashid, who visited China at the invitation of China's foreign trade ministry.

During their talks, Zhang said, Tang insisted that China's position on Iraqi question is "consistent and clear."

Iraq should observe the UN Security Council resolutions in full; in turn, the international community should gradually relax economic sanctions imposed on the country, Zhang said.

According to reports, the resumed Sixth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held soon in Bonn, Germany.

Zhang said China would devote itself to cooperating with the international community in dealing with climate change. (China Daily 07/13/2001)