In the annual white paper released by its Defence Agency on Tuesday, the Japanese Government stressed the importance of a missile defence system against alleged nuclear threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The paper said that the DPRK's nuclear programme remains one of Japan's biggest security concerns, therefore meaning there needs to be collaboration with the United States on the research and deployment of a missile defence shield.

Such an exaggerated statement flies in the face of the positive moves which have emerged regarding the regional security situation.

Last week, the DPRK expressed a willingness to accept six-nation talks on its nuclear programme. The move, considered a significant concession by the DPRK, has been widely hailed by the international community.

The US-advocated formula of talks, of which Japan is one of the players together with China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Russia, is expected to help ease the long-standing deadlock over the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

At such a critical and sensitive moment, any provocative action or even rhetoric from any party may possibly reverse the initially promising process.

Japan is by no means sensible by speaking in such a provocative manner.

In fact, the so-called "DPRK threat" is only an excuse for Japan to advance towards its long-pursued status of being a "normal country" and a military power.

It is ridiculous to believe that Japan feels threatened by the DPRK, given that there are such wide divides existing between the two countries in terms of economics as well as defence.

Japan has for many years had the world's second largest military budget, behind only the United States. In 2003, Japan's defence expenditures are expected to reach US$41 billion, which is much higher than the DPRK's gross domestic product.

Japan has recently passed an act to send its Self-Defence Forces to Iraq and three war-contingency bills, which has demonstrated that the country is keen on boosting its military status in the world context.

Japan's defence developments, no matter under what excuses, are sending a dangerous message about the country's military goals in the future.

(China Daily   August 7, 2003)