Spokeswoman for Chinese Foreign Ministry Monday Zhang Qiyue said that the remarks ran opposite to the wishes of both Chinese and Japanese peoples.

She made the statement in response to a question on Ozawa's remark last Saturday that Japan could easily develop nuclear weapons and would not lose militarily as China was increasing military spending.

Zhang said that Ozawa's words were provocative, representing an outdated cold war mentality just as the two countries were celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations,

His remarks contradicted hopes for peace and long-term friendship between the two countries and peoples, she added.

Japanese Liberal Party President Ichiro Ozawa claimed that Japan could make a large number of nuclear weapons "overnight" to curb China's "excessive expansion".

Japanese media said that Ichiro Ozawa's remarks would evoke a strong response from China and other Asian countries against any moves of Japanese militarism.

According to reports, Ichiro Ozawa Saturday said: "it is easy to make nuclear warheads for Japan, our nuclear power plants have enough plutonium which is enough to make 3000 to 4000 nuclear warheads, Japan can produce thousands of nuclear warheads overnight".

Nuclear weapons are the most sensitive issue in Japan, Japanese people are strongly against it. Since the nuclear accident in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1999, the most serious nuclear leakage accident, Japanese citizens have lost confidence about nuclear industry, they asked governments to reduce or stop nuclear power plant construction.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said lately with visiting Chinese top legislator Li Peng that Chinese development is not only conducive to Japan, but also other countries. He does not agree with the view that "China's rapid development would pose threat to Japan".

(People's Daily April 9, 2002)