US

Pentagon report on China a dud, says expert

By Tan Yingzi (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-17 14:19

WASHINGTON - A report by the Department of Defense, which was delayed for five months and claims that China is secretively seeking to expand its military strength, is nothing new, said a researcher.

"What is surprising in this report of some 83 pages is how little of its content is actually surprising," said Dean Cheng, research fellow in Chinese political and security affairs in the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation. "China clearly will continue to expand its military as it sees fit."

According to the Defense Department's report, China's drive to transform itself into a major military power is being pursued in a secretive manner that "increases the potential for misunderstanding" and military conflict with other nations.

The annual assessment, released Monday, is expected to receive a strong response from China. The report also stated that Beijing is upgrading its hefty arsenal of land-based missiles, modernizing its nuclear forces and expanding its fleet of attack submarines.

China has suspended military-to-military talks with the US in reaction to the US' sale of arms to Taiwan. The report covers 2009 before the US approved its $6.4 billion arms package for Taiwan in January.

China-US relations have soured in recent months after the US and its allies launched joint military drills on the Yellow Sea, the waters near China's political and economic hub - the Bohai Rim. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently criticized China's interests in the South China Sea at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Hanoi last month.

Chinese experts said China is not treated equally by the US and that is the reason why China cut off military exchanges.

Zhai Dequan, deputy secretary-general of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, said late last month that the US should re-examine its policy.

"China hopes to develop military ties with the US on the basis of equality, but China has not been treated equally. The US hurt China's core interests, and China cannot relaunch military-to-military ties with the US right now," Zhai said.

Chinese General Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of the People's Liberation Army, said in June that China will welcome a visit by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates at a time "appropriate to both sides", after China turned down a proposed fence-mending visit by Gates in June.

But US officials say it is difficult to gauge Beijing's intentions of military buildup.

"It's been ambiguous over the past several months," a senior defense official said of how the Pentagon regards its relationship with China. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly.

The Pentagon report states that "the limited transparency in China's military and security affairs enhances uncertainty and increases the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation."

China has repeatedly said the growth and modernization of its military poses no threat.

AFP and AP contributed to the story.

China Daily