http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/27/worldupdates/2007-05-27T114500Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-300150-2&sec=Worldupdates
May 27, 2007
Chinese media blast Pentagon report
By Chris Buckley
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese state media on Sunday blasted a Pentagon report on
Beijing's defence plans as misleading and insulting, and said China had to
pursue military modernisation to avoid falling further behind the United
States.
The U.S. Defense Department report released on Friday said that while Beijing
remained focused on the Taiwan Strait as a potential flashpoint, it also
appeared to be looking to project its growing military strength elsewhere.
A soldier is seen holding a red flag during the welcome ceremony for
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing
in this May 14, 2007 file photo. (REUTERS/Jason Lee)
Beijing has yet to give a formal reaction to the report, but the ruling
Communist Party's newspaper and other state media signalled China's rancour.
While Beijing and Washington have been cooperating on North Korea and other
international crises, the tough words underscored the distrust that overshadows
military perceptions on both sides.
"This report continues to make outrageous comments about China's security and
military strategy and its military capabilities, and attacks China's defense
and military modernisation," said a commentary in the People's Daily.
"The report ignores the facts, deliberately exaggerates the so-called Chinese
military threat, and is totally unsupportable."
The Pentagon's annual report to the U.S. Congress on China's military power
said Beijing maintained its traditional focus on the Taiwan Strait, the
self-ruled island divided from mainland rule since 1949, which Beijing says
must accept reunification.
But the report stressed that China was looking beyond the island in making and
buying weapons and crafting strategy.
"Analysis of China's military acquisitions and strategic thinking suggests
Beijing is also generating capabilities for other regional contingencies, such
as conflict over resources or territory," the report said.
The report said new Chinese missile units could be used for crises not
involving Taiwan and advances in China's air force would allow extended air
operations over the South China Sea.
The Chinese counter-blast said Beijing was far from feeling militarily secure.
"The report even more insultingly says that China, out of concern for energy
needs, has been enhancing ties with countries that violate human rights,
support international terrorism and engage in nuclear proliferation," said the
People's Daily.
"The 2007 annual report again seeks to mislead international opinion by using
erroneous claims."
China is a vast, populous country that long stinted on defence spending, so it
was natural for the government to channel more recourses to military
modernisation, said a commentary on the Web site of the Xinhua news agency
(www.xinhuanet.com).
"Our overall deterrent and war-fighting capabilities are still far from being
able to suit national needs in responding to traditional and non-traditional
security threats and challenges," it said. "To a large extent, China's military
gap with developed countries is not shrinking but continuing to expand."
In March, China said it would boost defence spending by 17.8 percent to about
$45 billion in 2007. But the Pentagon report cited U.S. intelligence estimates
that China's total military-related spending for 2007 could really be between
$85 billion and $125 billion.
The Bush administration had requested $484.1 billion for the Defence Department
in the fiscal year starting from October 2007, a figure that does not include
military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The United States is advancing its military transformation with great fanfare,
seeking an absolute military advantage," said the People's Daily.
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