Common security goal

Common security goal

Japan should urge China to exercise self-restraint.

Japanese and U.S. Cabinet officials in charge of security matters have agreed on the "common strategic objectives" in the post-9/11 world. While both Japan and the United States are nervous about China's military buildup, China is a neighbor of Japan.

If the relations between China and the United States become tense, Japan would be adversely affected both politically and economically. As a U.S. ally, Japan should call on China to exercise self-restraint in its military buildup to reduce the risk of letting tensions arise needlessly.

Currently, Japanese and Chinese leaders are prevented from mutually visiting the other country because of Koizumi's persistence in visiting Yasukuni Shrine. Such a state of affairs works to the detriment of Japan's interest from a standpoint of security and other areas.

-- The Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo