CANBERRA, JULY 5, SPA -- Australia and a top U.S. military official expressed concern Thursday that China'srapid military buildup and use of a missile in space couldadd to instability in the Asia-Pacific, and backed agreater role for Japan in regional security, REPORTED AP. Releasing his government's first defense policy updatesince 2005, Prime Minister John Howard said China'seconomic rise was good for the world, but added a cautionthat it was also a pivotal player in several tense issuesin the region. «The pace and scope of its military modernization,particularly the development of new and disruptivecapabilities such as the anti-satellite missile, couldcreate misunderstandings and instability in the region,»the policy report said. The policy brings Canberra closely into line withWashington, which has expressed similar concerns aboutChina's military expansion. The two are already closeallies, with a defense pact and Australian contributions toU.S.-led operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Responding to the report, Chinese Foreign Ministryspokesman Qin Gang said Thursday at a regular pressbriefing that China's defense policy is «defensive innature and we will stick to the road of peacefuldevelopment. China is a staunch force for the safeguardingof world and regional peace and stability.» Separately Thursday, the commander of the United States'Japan-based naval battle group voiced Washington's concernabout China rapid military expansion. «Certainly we are a bit wary of China,» Rear Adm. RickWren, the commander of the aircraft carrier USS KittyHawk's battle group, told The Associated Press. «They seemto be fairly opaque in communicating what they intend to dowith this large military buildup.» Wren, speaking aboard the carrier as it came into SydneyHarbor for a port visit, said the United States wants Chinato become a stabilizing force in Asia. «Certainly we need them to be a stabilizing force in thisregion,» he said. «But until we can actually define that,we will continue to practice our skills and be ready forwhatever the president calls on us to do.» More than 5,000 U.S. sailors were due to take shore leavein Sydney after completing the Talisman Saber exercises, abiennial event that this year pitted 20,000 U.S. troops and7,500 Australian forces and dozens of ships and planesagainst fictional enemies in a variety of land andsea-based scenarios off Australia's northeastern coast. Japan took part in the Talisman Saber exercises as anobserver, and Wren said Japan would take a «much bigger»role in future exercises. He did not elaborate. «The importance of multilateral alliance in this theateris very important,» Wren said. «What we both want to dois expand that in the interest of creating a stronger andlong-lasting regional stability, and so we are bringing inmany other nations.» Cooperation could include non-combat roles such asdisaster relief and other humanitarian operations, he said. The Australian policy document said cooperation betweenAustralia, Japan and the United States would becomeincreasingly important in maintaining stability in Asia,and noted «Australia has no closer nor more valuablepartner in the region than Japan.» «Japan's more active security posture within the U.S. alliance and multinational coalitions is in keeping withits economic and diplomatic weight,» it said. Howard said China's economic rise was good for the world,but that «U.S.-China relations, China-Japan tensions andlong-standing flash points in Taiwan and the Koreanpeninsula will require continuing careful management.» The report said mishandling tensions between Taiwan andChina could have «disastrous consequences for theregion.» The United States and Japan are stepping up efforts tobuild a joint missile defense system in Asia, partly as abulwark against regional threats such as a nuclear-armedNorth Korea. Australia, a steadfast U.S. ally that hasabout 2,000 troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, is studyingwhether to participate in the defense shield. Australia and Japan signed a security agreement in Marchthat will enable Japanese forces to train alongsideAustralians for disaster relief and peacekeeping missions,and boost cooperation between the two countries in--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/464988