China says Japan "pouring oil on fire" over North Korea

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

BEIJING, July 13 (Reuters) China criticised Japan for ''pouring oil on fire'' for raising the issue of a pre-emptive strike on North Korea after its missile tests, warning it could seriously disrupt international efforts to defuse the crisis.

''This practice is extremely irresponsible and incomprehensible and it will only seriously disrupt international diplomatic efforts and accelerate tensions in Northeast Asia,'' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement.

Last week's launch has rekindled debate in Japan over whether it should develop the capability to make pre-emptive strikes and whether these would violate its post-World War Two pacifist constitution.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe did not say Tokyo was considering a pre-emptive strike nor did he use the words ''pre-emptive strike''.

But he said on Monday: ''I believe it is necessary to conduct study and research (on the matter).'' The United States has emphasised the importance it places in regional powers speaking with one voice in response to North Korea's test-launch of seven missiles but has run into obstacles deeply rooted in the region's history, culture and geopolitics.

REUTERS SRS RN0800

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