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Posted on 10/31/2001 10:05:06 AM PST by tallhappy

China cautions Japan agst playing active role in US terror war

Reacting to the Japanese parliament's approval of a bill yesterday to allow its Self-Defence Forces (SDF) to provide non-combat support to the ongoing US strikes against Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said the Japanese government must act cautiously.

"We believe that cracking down on terrorism is the common task of the international community. We hope that the relevant parties will, in accordance with the United Nations charter and international law, make efforts in the fight against terrorism," Sun said.

However, due to historical reasons, the role of Japan in the military field is a question that should be handled cautiously by the Japanese government, the spokesman said.

The new laws authorise Japan's SDF to provide rear-area logistical support for coalition members and takes measures to strengthen security around US bases in Japan.

The legislation allows Japan to send the SDF overseas during an armed conflict for the first time, enabling it to provide logistic support, such as medical services and supply shipments, to the military operations.

The US has alread warmly welcomed the passage of the bills by the Japanese parliament.

Compare that to the following article's headline and emphasis:

Agence France Presse

October 30, 2001 Tuesday

HEADLINE: China takes conciliatory line on Japanese anti-terror law

DATELINE: BEIJING, Oct 30

China on Tuesday took a notably soft line on the passage of a new counter-terrorism law permitting the Japanese military to offer non-combat support to the US-led war on terrorism.

In a departure from usual hostility to any move giving the Japanese armed forces a higher profile, Beijing broadly welcomed the Japanese parliament's decision as part of the global fight against terror.

"We believe that cracking down on terrorism is a common task of the international community," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said in response to the Japanese law passed Monday. "We hope that the relevant parties will, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, make efforts in the fight against terrorism," he told a regular press briefing.

Sun added: "However, due to historical reasons the role of Japan in the military field is a question that should be handled with caution by the Japanese government."

China, which was brutally occupied by Japanese forces before and during World War II, habitually reacts with fury to any suggestion of Japan tinkering with its post-war pacifist constitution.

But Sun, while saying all of Asia was extremely wary of Japan flexing any military might, expressed the reservations in far softer language than usual.

On Monday the upper house of parliament in Tokyo, the House of Councillors, voted to permit Japan's Self-Defence Forces to provide rearguard support at sea for the Afghan campaign.

If Japanese forces are deployed in support of the United States, it would be the first such action since World War II. Japan's post-war constitution bars the use of offensive force.

Sun stressed Japan should not stray beyond a strictly non-military role.

He said due to "what the Japanese did during the Second World War, that's why there is the peace constitution in Japan".

"We hope the Japanese will go along the road of peaceful development. We hope they will stick to this policy."

Any Japanese military action "should be adopted in consideration of history, in consideration of the Asian people and in consideration of the demands and feelings of the Japanese people who much love the cause of peace", Sun added.

Japan's government reportedly plans to send up to 1,000 personnel, two fuel-supply ships and three or four destroyers to carry fuel and supplies to US bases in Diego Garcia, a British territory in the Indian Ocean.

Under the new law, Japan's military will be able to provide medical and logistical support to US forces in any action against Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, but will not be allowed to operate in "combat zones".

China has altered its foreign policy in a number of areas after electing to support the US-led military response to the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Relations with Japan on the issue of wartime history were also eased this month when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, while visiting a war memorial in Beijing, expressed "heartfelt apology and condolences" to Chinese victims of Japanese aggression during World War II.

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