Japan MP says China could put Japan under rule-media

TOKYO, Feb 27 (Reuters) A senior Japanese ruling lawmaker said Japan could become just another Chinese province in the future given Beijing's increasing military capabilities, local media reported today.

The comments by Shoichi Nakagawa, policy chief of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), could hurt the recently improving ties between the Asian neighbours after Abe's fence-mending trip to Beijing last October.

The two countries are preparing for an April visit to Japan by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that would be the first by a top Chinese leader since 2000.

''If something goes wrong in Taiwan in the next 15 years, we (Japan) might also become just another Chinese province within 20 years or so,'' Kyodo news agency quoted Nakagawa as saying in a speech on Monday.

''If Taiwan is placed under its complete influence, Japan could be next. That's how much China is seeking hegemony,'' Nakagawa, one of the LDP's top three executives, later told reporters, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun.

Abe, whose support ratings have been on a steady decline partly due to gaffes by his ministers, brushed off concerns about Nakagawa's comments, saying it was meaningless to debate part of a speech.

''In the past, it was often said that Japan might become the 51st state of the United States,'' he told reporters.

Nakagawa, known for his tough stance towards Beijing, also said in the speech that China's satellite-killing missile test in January was meant to keep in check Japan's planned launch of spy satellites, which went ahead last week.

China used a ground-based medium-range ballistic missile to knock out an ageing Chinese weather satellite last month, triggering international concerns.

Tokyo has urged Beijing to further explain its intentions regarding the missile test, saying that China's explanation so far has not been sufficient.

''We have been asking China to provide an explanation that is acceptable to the international community over the destruction of the satellite,'' Abe said.

REUTERS BDP SSC1133