Japan’s move to lift decades-old ban on arms exports and its efforts to strengthen defence ties with India are a cause of concern to China, the state-run media here said.
Japan’s decision, which would allow its companies to take part in arms development projects with countries other than the US, was followed by a $15 billion currency swap deal between Japan and India, China Daily reported.
Japanese and Indian navies are also expected to hold their first joint drill next year.
The daily noted that Japan had just concluded its first-ever trilateral dialogue with the US and India in Washington.
Japan’s moves toward boosting its military might will send alarming signals across Asia, it quoted Shi Yinhong, a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, as saying.
An arms trade between Japan and India may further deepen tensions in the Asia-Pacific because China is a potential target of the two evolving strategic partnership, Zhao Gancheng, director of the South Asia research department at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, claimed.
“In terms of political safety, (Japan) wants to counter China by linking with countries such as the US, India and Australia. But on the other hand, it is aware of the fact that Sino-Japanese relations are a prerequisite for its quest to become a normal country. So personally, I think the policy is itself contradictory,” Zhao was quoted as saying.
Nonetheless, Liu Jiangyong, an expert on Japan studies at Tsinghua University, said Tokyo’s incentives are primarily economic.
Mr Liu said the long-term impact of this latest policy change will be detrimental for China.
“From now on, Japan can export weapons to its neighbours and allies such as India, the Philippines and Australia. At first, these may be for maritime security. But offensive weapons may eventually enter the picture, because that’s the only way to fuel its indigenous defence industry,” he said.