BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Foreign military attaches in China said Monday that China's issuance of a white paper on defense indicates the country's armed forces are becoming increasingly open and transparent.

    The 85-page white paper, the fifth of its kind since 1995, is titled "China's National Defense in 2004." It was released Monday morning by the Information Office of the State Council.

    Calling China's issuance of the white paper "good," Japanese military attache in China Hirohide Inoue said it enables other countries to learn about China's security concerns, defense policies and military reforms, which Inoue said "will help build mutual trust."

    Tossaporn Homcharoen, Thai military attache in China, called the white paper a contribution to enhancing the regional security transparency and building mutual trust, saying that China is a peace-loving country and a vital force in safeguarding regional security.

    The white paper is an important document, marking a big step for China's army towards opening up to the outside world, said Lajos Racz, Hungarian military attache based in China.

    When asked to comment on the white paper's reaffirmation of China's determination to crush any Taiwan independence attempt "atall costs," the US Military Attache Ralph Jodice said he understood China's position, but declined to comment more, saying he needed to study further.

    Russian Military Attache Sergey V. Netkach welcomed the issuance of the white paper, calling it "a major channel to understand Chinese defense policies and army building."

    Rich in content and different in structure from earlier papers,this white paper is worth studying, Netkach said.

    Agreeing with what the white paper says about the cross-Strait situation, Netkach said Russia will unswervingly support the one-China policy.

    Alexis Brossollet, French military attache in China, said he always paid attention to China's defense policy.

    "I do not consider China a threat, but an important country," Brossollet said.

    Lauding French-China maritime search and rescue exercises and joint seminars for the two countries' senior military officers, Brossollet said, "We will continue to work with China to seek peaceful solutions to security issues."

    More than 60 foreign military attaches in China gathered Mondayafternoon at the Foreign Affairs Office of the Defense Ministry, where Zhang Bangdong, director of the office, briefed them on the white paper and answered their questions. Enditem