US and Japan Agree to Closely Watch China

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have agreed that Japan and the United States should closely monitor China's military capability. A Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters that Mr. Abe and Cheney shared concerns about China's military buildup and its recent test of a satellite-killing missile during their meeting in Tokyo Wednesday.

Last month, China shot down one of its own weather satellites, making it the third country in the world to carry out such a test. The United States and the former Soviet Union tested similar weapons 20 years ago.

Separately, Cheney called for the resolution of a dispute between Japan and North Korea over Japanese citizens kidnapped by Pyongyang. Cheney said the United States understands Japan's refusal to provide economic aid to North Korea until what he called the "tragic case" of Japanese abductions is settled.

美国副总统切尼和日本首相安倍晋三同意日本和美国应该密切观察中国的军事能力。日本外务省一位官员对记者说， 安倍首相和切尼副总统星期三在东京举行会谈期间，都对中国的军事发展以及最近进行的反卫星导弹试验表示关注。

上个月，中国击毁自己的一颗气象卫星，从而成为世界上第3个进行这类试射的国家。美国和前苏联20年前曾试验过类似武器。

此外，切尼副总统还呼吁解决日本和北韩围绕日本公民被绑架问题的争端。切尼说，美国理解日本为什么在日本被绑架人员的“悲剧”得到解决之前，拒绝向北韩提供经济援助。