JAPAN`S Defence Minister questioned whether China`s missile and nuclear arsenal was only meant for self-defence, though China sought to play down fears of its growing military strength and spending.
This comes after China said it will raise its heavily scrutinised defence spending by nearly a fifth this year to 418 billion yuan ($60.2 billion).
"I wonder if that was aimed at only protecting itself," Shigeru Ishiba told delegates at a defence summit in Singapore.
"I sometimes wonder maybe that is not the only intention when you look at the ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.
"We would like to urge China to further enhance the transparency of its military capabilities and their purposes," he said.
"Japan does not subscribe to purposely overstating China as a threat."
Ties between the two Asian powers have long been marred by a bitter wartime past and disputes over energy, influence and military ambitions.
Ma Xiao Tian, China`s deputy chief of the People`s Liberation Army, said a sizeable part of the country`s defense spending was for maintenance purposes, and the increase in spending was limited compared to rises for other sectors of its economy.
"China is a peace-loving country. We do not engage in arms race, we are a military threat to no other country," he said.
China has said that its spending on defence was increasing at a much lower rate than the pace of increase in government revenues, and accounted for 1.4 percent of its gross domestic product, less than that of the United States, Britain or India.
"To strengthen defense developments, it is a necessary requirement to effectively respond to multiple security threats," Mr Ma said.
"It is imperative for China to keep up with this kind of world military development."
He said China was also concerned about other countries alliances and missile defense systems.
Ties between China and Japan, which is home to US military bases, chilled during former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi`s 2001-2006 term over his visits to Yasukuni shrine, seen by critics as a symbol of Japan`s past militarism because it honours some convicted war criminals along with the country`s war dead.
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