Chinese scholars and diplomats are denouncing the 'absurd rhetoric' of Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who said China was "beginning to pose a considerable threat".

The newly appointed Japanese foreign minister told a news conference on Thursday that China "has an atomic bomb. Its military spending has been rising for 17 consecutive years. There is no transparency and I view that as a concern, a threat."

Liu Jiangyong, a professor with Beijing-based Qinghua University, said Japanese Foreign Minister made the remarks to go along with the wishes of Japanese right-wing in the hope of raising his political popularity.

Aso is expected to be a leading candidate to succeed Prime Minister Koizumi next September. Since the minister took office in late October he has been scolded by Japanese media and people abroad for making derogatory remarks about relations with China and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Last month the foreign minister attacked China and the ROK after they expressed deep concern over Koizumi's visits to a shrine that honors convicted class A war criminals. Aso rejected China's and ROK's concerns saying they were the only countries in the world to fussy about the shrine visits.

Professor Liu, who has studied China-Japan relations for a decade, said the Japanese minister's tirade is leading the China-Japan relations into an abyss.

Aso's remarks received a strong condemn from China's foreign ministry.

"It is highly irresponsible for the Japanese foreign minister to make such comments," said Qin Gang, spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"We would really like to know his real motive," Qin said, adding that China's development has contributed to world peace and stability.

Professor Liu said Aso "lacks political assets " which is crucial to his aspiration of succeeding Koizumi. Liu believes the minister is only trying to cater to the Prime Minister by supporting his controversial visits to the Yasukuni Shrine.

Liu feels that the Japanese cabinet turned sharply to the right in 2005.

A survey in November conducted by conservative Japanese newspaper Yomiuri and the U.S. Gallup Market Research Corp. showed that some 73 percent of Japanese respondents believe Beijing-Tokyo relations have "worsened".

The Tokyo-based Kyodo News Agency was also critical of Aso's recent belligerence toward Japan's neighbors, saying Aso was not contributing to relations with China and the ROK. "What he has done is 'pouring oil on the fire'," said a Kodyo editorial which also condemned Aso for having "no courage to face history".

"If Aso goes on with his ravings against the development of China-Japan relations, he will eventually find himself a victim of right-wing forces in Japan," Liu said.

Coincidentally, the Information Office of China's State Council issued a white paper on Thursday, which said the country seeks to provide more development opportunities and bigger markets for the rest of the world.

"China did not seek hegemony in the past, nor does it now, and will not do so in the future when it grows stronger," the white paper said.

Source: Xinhua