Pentagon's China military report 'ignores objective truth,' says China
| Beijing
Beijing reacted angrily Wednesday to a Pentagon report expressing worries about China鈥檚 burgeoning military capabilities, calling such concerns baseless.
鈥淭he report ignores the objective truth and accuses China for its normal national defense and army construction鈥� said Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng. 鈥淭he development of the Chinese army is reasonable and proper.鈥�
This year's annual Pentagon report on China's military capabilities, delivered to Congress on Monday, outlined China鈥檚 moves to boost its military strength and warned that 鈥渢he limited transparency in China鈥檚 military and security affairs enhances uncertainty and increases the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation.鈥�
Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, complained recently that China鈥檚 suspension of military-to-military links made it harder for Washington to assess Beijing鈥檚 intentions. He said China鈥檚 investment in 鈥渉igh-end鈥� weaponry had moved him from being 鈥渃urious about what they are doing to being concerned.鈥�
Beijing cut off military ties with Washington earlier this year to protest a $6.4 billion US arms sale to Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province.
The Peoples Liberation Army has issued its own reports on its activities in recent years, and has played a growing role in international peacekeeping operations, such as the antipiracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.
US officials are skeptical, however, about the accuracy of China鈥檚 accounts of its military. They believe, for example, that Beijing in fact spends twice as much as its official 2010 defense budget of 78 billion dollars.
Chinese analysts are doubtful that Beijing will meet US demands for greater transparency any time soon.
鈥淚t takes time to change mentalities鈥� says Shen Dingli, a security expert at Shanghai鈥檚 Fudan university. 鈥淚ncrementally China is providing more transparency鈥ut we will have to wait for a generational change鈥� in China鈥檚 military leadership to see a change in attitude, he cautions.
Such a change would smooth China鈥檚 relationship not only with the United States but also with neighbors such as Japan and India, Professor Shen points out. 鈥淐hina should be more courageous in transparency and build its confidence鈥o make other countries confident about its defense buildup鈥� he argues.
Releasing information about the country鈥檚 weapons research and development programs and its purchases would help 鈥渁void the pitfall of being seen unnecessarily as a threat,鈥� Shen adds.
The Pentagon report highlighted China鈥檚 work on a ballistic missile capable of attacking aircraft carriers more than 930 miles away, the continuing buildup of missiles aimed at Taiwan, and Beijing鈥檚 plans 鈥� still officially unannounced 鈥� to begin construction of China鈥檚 first aircraft carrier.
