Two annual reports released last month -- one from the U.S. Department of Defense and the other from the U.S.-China Security Review Commission, a congressional panel -- express serious concern about China's military buildup and economic development. Such a perception does not sit well with the Japanese thinking that tends to define Japan-China relations largely in terms of "past problems" -- acts of aggression committed by the Japanese military during World War II. However, Japan cannot remain indifferent to America's growing apprehensions about China's future.

The rise of China, touted as a "superpower of the 21st century," is also a grave concern to Japan. An objective analysis of its military and economic potential is essential. It is particularly important for Japan to explore avenues to peace in East Asia through Chinese military restraint and disarmament.

The U.S. reports help in making such an analysis. The Pentagon report focuses on China's rapidly expanding military power, just as its Cold War-era reports concentrated on Soviet military strength. Saying that Beijing is bolstering its military behind the scenes, the study puts Chinese defense spending at $65 billion, more than three times the published official figure. The sum is expected to rise three or four times by 2020.