China downplays Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's visit to India

China on Monday downplayed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to India as a bilateral issue, even as the state-media termed the trip as a failure for not succeeding in pinning down Beijing.

"The visit you mentioned is an issue between India and Japan," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a media briefing while responding to a question on Abe's just-concluded visit to India. The visit evoked considerable media attention in view of the China-Japan diplomatic stand off over the disputed islands in East China Sea.

On the emerging defence cooperation between India and Japan, Qin said, "we hope that development of defence cooperation between both countries will be conducive to peace stability and security of the whole region." "Because peace, stability and security of the region should be upheld and safeguarded by all relevant countries," he said.

During Abe's visit, India invited Japan to join the India-US Malabar Joint military exercises and the two countries discussed the sale of Japan's US-2 amphibious aircraft to India. Abe's visit, however, evoked a lot of interest with some Chinese publications featuring his presence as Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations prominently. "Abe cozies up to India," a front page report of the state-run Global Times said.

The visit as analysts said aimed at "pinning down China but hardly looks like succeeding," the report said. Despite media speculation over a sense of unease being felt in China over Abe, who is the mostly widely criticised Japanese leader in China, Indian officials were confident that Beijing will see it in a proper context as New Delhi has maintained a steady silence over the Sino-Japanese islands dispute.

India also did not comment on the establishment of an air defence zone over the East China Sea by China, which drew flack from the US and many other countries. India in general terms has been emphasising the importance of the freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes, officials said.