Beijing denies being security threat

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang rebutted Japanese claims that China poses a security threat to the Asia Pacific region, state media reported. Qin said China's military expenses reached US$25.6 billion last year while Japan reportedly spends 1.62 times of this amount. In per capita expense, China is only US$23, compared to Japan's US$2,300. "Japan has only 4% of China's land area and one-tenth of China's population. But they have such a huge military expenditure. What are Japan's motives?" Qin asked.