Japan ‘will not be roaring lion

Press, 9 May 1981, Page 9

Japan ‘will not be roaring lion

NZPA-Reuter Washington The Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Zenko Suzuki) told American congressmen yesterday that Japan would develop its defence in a manner appropriate to a major economic power but did not intend to Become a “roaring lion” in Asia. “Better a wise mouse than a roaring lion,” Mr Suzuki was quoted as telling a closed door session of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.

Earlier, Mr Suzuki said: “We Japanese are willing to discharge our responsibilities for peace and freedom in a manner commensurate with our national strength.” Mr Suzuki is in Washington to discuss with President Ronald Reagan the desire of the United States that Japan take on a greater role in regional defence. Congressman Stephen Solarz said Mr Suzuki declared that Japan would never produce or introduce nuclear

weapons on to its soil but continue to have confidence in the American nuclear umbrella.

Mr Suzuki said his country had increased defence spending by 7 per cent annually in real terms, well ahead of the 3 per cent level of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries.

Mr Reagan earlier welcomed Mr Suzuki to the White House and said their talks would chart the future course of United States— Japanese co-operation in the face of Soviet expansionism. Mr Reagan said Japan realised that it must bear the responsibilities of a free society, an allusion to what aides said was an American desire for Japan to take on a greater role in regional defence.

He praised Japan for taking strong measures “to penalise the Soviet Union for its armed aggression in Afghanistan.”

This touched on a sore

subject, for Japan: Mr Reagan’s decision on April 24 to lift the partial United States ban on grain sales to the Soviet Union imposed by the former President Carter after the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Mr Suzuki has complained publicly that Japan, which joined in the embargo, was not consulted before the decision but the State Department has said Tokyo was informed, in advance.