China's 'dangerous acts' at sea could have consequences, warns Japan white paper
Tokyo criticises Chinese and North Korean military action in disputed waters, stoking concerns over a possible escalation in conflict
Japan warned that China’s “dangerous acts” over territorial claims in the East China Sea could lead to “unintended consequences” in the region, as fears grow of a potential military clash.
Japan’s annual defence white paper was adopted by hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ministers at a cabinet meeting, heaping criticism on Beijing’s unilateral declaration of an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) late last year.
The ADIZ sparked regional criticism as well as condemnation from Washington, while commentators voiced concern over the growing chances of an armed conflict between the two Asian powers.
Tokyo’s paper noted that China's military budget had quadrupled over the past decade and said Japan was seeing an “increasingly severe” security environment.
By comparison, Japan’s military budget had been on the decline since 2002, but it took an upward turn, rising 2.2 per cent in the current fiscal year, according to the paper.
“Japan is deeply concerned about the establishment of ‘the East China Sea ADIZ’ which is profoundly dangerous act that … [may] escalate the situation and may cause unintended consequences” in the region, the 505-page paper said.