China urges Japan to help keep regional peace

Beijing, Dec. 28 (People's Daily Online) -- China on Tuesday responded to Japan's relaxation on weapons exports, saying it hoped Japan to play a constructive role in regional peace.

The Japanese government yesterday announced a controversial decision to relax a decades-old ban on weapons exports, which will boost the nation's shrinking military budget. It was in a political shift that will allow Japan to jointly participate in arms development and production with other countries.

At a daily press briefing yesterday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei was asked to make a comment on this issue.

"We have noticed relevant reports," Hong said. "We hope Japan will play a constructive role in regional peace and stability." (Li Zhenyu)