The World - News from May 31, 1987

Yuko Kurihara, director general of the Japan Defense Agency, said he has assured Chinese officials that there is “no possibility” of Japan again becoming a military threat in Asia, despite efforts to strengthen Japan’s defense capabilities, the New China News Agency reported. Kurihara spoke at a news conference in Beijing after two days of talks with top Chinese officials, including Defense Minister Zhang Aiping. Zhang earlier told Kurihara that Japan should limit the development of its defense forces to ease the fears of its Asian neighbors. Japan recently scrapped a limit of defense spending of 1% of its gross national product.