China on Saturday criticizes Japanese leader's repeated visit to
the Yasukuni Shrine and gives no verification on Shinzo Abe's visit
to China in October if he becomes Japan's new prime minister.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement
that the Japanese leader's obstinate persistence in visiting the
Yasukuni Shrine is the crux which handicaps the China-Japan
relations and the normal exchanges between the leaders of the two
countries.
The statement came in the wake of some reports saying the
diplomatic authorities of China and Japan are now working on
preparations for a visit by Shinzo Abe to China in October if he
becomes Japan's new prime minister.
In the statement, Qin said China has always attached great
importance to developing friendly relations with Japan but didn't
say anything to verify Abe's visit.
Qin said the key to solve the present difficulties is that the
Japanese leader make an early resolution on thoroughly clearing up
the political barrier of the shrine visits and bring the bilateral
relations back to normal track for development.
"China's stance is clear and firm," Qin added.
Abe, the current chief cabinet secretary of Japan, is a very
strong candidate for Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
presidential election, which is to be held on September 20. The
winner of the election will naturally succeed Junichiro Koizumi
because the ruling bloc, made up of the LDP and its coalition
partner New Komeito party, holds a majority in the lower house and
controls the final say in selecting the prime minister.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has visited the
controversial Yasukuni Shrine every year after coming into office
in 2001. His practice has greatly damaged Japan's relations with
China and South Korea, which suffered Japan's militaristic
atrocities during WWII.
Abe has defended Koizumi's pilgrimages to the shrine and refused
to say whether or not he would visit the shrine if he becomes the
new prime minister.
Regarding other reports that some US officials said China was
helping some countries develop ballistic missile technology and
also blasted China for developing biological and chemical weapons,
a violation of international convention, Qin said the claim is
"groundless and irresponsible" in a statement on Friday.
"The Chinese government is resolutely opposed to the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their
carriers," said Qin.
He said China also banned the proliferation of biological and
chemical weapons.
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"No Chinese company or individual is allowed to engage in WMD
proliferation," Qin said.
China has done a lot of work in nonproliferation legislation and law
enforcement, educating companies and improving international
cooperation, Qin said, adding that the work has yielded remarkable
achievements.
The Associated Press quoted Peter Rodman, US assistant defense
secretary, as saying that "Chinese companies have helped Iran as it
tries to establish a self-sufficient ballistic missile production
program."
"As China was the victim of biological and chemical weapons,
China has always maintained the all-round ban and comprehensive
disposal of all WMD, including biological and chemical weapons,"
Qin said.
Since becoming a party to the Biological Weapons Convention and
the Chemical Weapons Convention, China has consistently and
strictly honored its nonproliferation commitment, Qin said.
"China has never been involved in any activities against the
biological weapons and the chemical weapons conventions," the
spokesman said.
China has been committed to fulfilling its obligations on
nuclear nonproliferation and work at improving international
cooperation for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Jin Zhuanglong,
deputy director of the Commission of Science, Technology and
Industry for National Defense, said in late August.
Jin said China has signed 70 international treaties and
inter-department agreements on international cooperation of
peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.
(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2006)