Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun revealed on July 2 some of the inside of Japan's White Paper on National Defense 2005, which will be submitted for discussion early August.

The part on China is greatly expanded in the upcoming white paper, which is the biggest difference from last year's. The paper points out that China's military spending outgrows its GDP, at over 10 percent for 17 consecutive years.

Wariness of China's military modernization is apparent in the paper, which says that China is still adopting a military strategy of active defense.

A chapter on maritime security in East Asia is added. The paper says China is actively boosting its navy's ocean-going capacity in order to develop oil exploitation overseas. The paper says Japan "has been keeping a close eye on the activities of Chinese naval vessels. Obviously, the paper has listed China as a threat to the maritime security in the region.

The paper also expresses worries about the rampant pirates in the Malacca Straits and stresses the importance of ensuring the maritime security in Southeast Asia. It is the first time for Japan's ambition to chisel in on the Malacca region in the name of fighting pirates to be made clear in the form of white paper on national defense.

By People's Daily Online