Caution urged on missile defense

Beijing urged Tokyo on Tuesday to take other countries’ security concerns into account and act cautiously after Japan decided to add to its anti-missile systems.

“Countries should not only consider their own security interests, but also respect others’ reasonable security concerns,” Hua said at a daily news conference. “We hope Japan will act cautiously and play a constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability.”

The Japanese government approved on Tuesday deployment of the US military’s landbased Aegis missile interceptor system, beefing up its defense against “serious” and “imminent” threats from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The DPRK has fired two missiles over Japan this year.

“The Chinese government has always believed that the anti-missile issue concerns global strategic stability and mutual trust between countries,” Hua said.

Asian neighbors and the international community have been closely following Japan’s military moves “due to historical reasons”, the spokeswoman said.

Japan plans to introduce the Aegis Ashore system at two locations, covering the entire nation with powerful radar.

The deployment will hand the US ally another layer of defense in addition to SM-3 guided missiles launched by Aegis destroyer vessels and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.

However, it will take years before the Aegis Ashore system is operational, according to Japanese officials.

The contract has not yet been signed with the United States and deployment at two locations could cost 200 billion yen ($1.8 billion), including the cost of building new facilities.

Yang Xiyu, a researcher of Korean Peninsula studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said Japan’s decision is a dangerous step that benefits no one.

The decision, a reflection of US global strategy, may help the US form an anti-missile system in the region, thus increase instability and in turn undermine Japan’s own security environment, Yang said.

The US is making Northeast Asia less secure by “piling up” strategic weapons there, Yang said. The parties concerned should reduce, not increase, such actions to maintain security, he said.

AFP contributed to this story.