China must be more transparent about its soaring military budget to ease conerns about Beijing's military intentions, Japan's defence minister has said.

 

Masahiko Komura's comments came during a meeting with his visiting Chinese counterpart, Cao Gangchuan, the first face-to-face talks defence chiefs from the two countries in nearly a decade.

During the meeting Komura urged Beijing to ""clarify" its military spending and arms policy, particularly troop deployment, equipment and training. the Kyodo News agency reported.

Cao said China was "making effort to increase transparency", adding that the recent growth in spending had largely gone to salaries, uniforms and modernisation in line with China's drive to create a more professional military.

 

'Taiwan situation'

 

"I strongly hope Japan-China relations would improve even further with the visit of the Chinese defence minister here" Masahiko Komura, Japan defence minister

He also pointed to ongoing tensions with Taiwan which China has threatened with military force if it makes moves toward declaring formal independence from the mainland.

 

"China needs military spending because of the Taiwan situation," Cao was quoted as saying.

 

The meeting was aimed at bolstering defence co-operation between the two countries and improving overall ties.

 

Sino-Japanese relations have been strained in recent years over issues such as disputed territory and Japan's war time past.

 

In a bid to avoid friction with Beijing ahead of the talks, Japan did not extend its usual invitation to army officials from Taiwan to attend an annual military drill held near Mount Fuji last week.

 

Military expansion

 

Despite warming ties, concerns are still high in Tokyo about China's military build-up and marked rise in defence spending.

 

Japan's defence ministry lists Chinese military expansion as a top security concern in the region, and Japanese officials have labelled China a "threat", drawing rebukes from Beijing.

 

Tokyo also expressed alarm earlier this year when China successfully tested an anti-satellite missile, becoming only the third country to destroy an object in space.

 

Komura and Cao were expected to discuss the possibility of setting up a telephone hotline between their armies, and reciprocal port calls by navy ships.

 

Cao, who arrived on Wednesday for a five-day visit, addressed Japanese troops before Thursday's talks.