皇冠体育app

By Li Xiaokun (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-13 07:25

The modernization of 皇冠体育app's armed forces neither targets at nor is capable of altering East Asia's strategic balance, Chinese experts said Wednesday.

Senior military experts from 皇冠体育app and ASEAN member countries discuss a point at the "Military Modernization and Mutual Trust Building" dialogue in Beijing March 12, 2008. The talks were held to boost mutual understanding and trust. [皇冠体育app Daily]

"皇冠体育app's military equipment is far too weak compared to that of the US-Japan alliance and hence, cannot change the region's military balance," a researcher with 皇冠体育app Foundation for International and Strategic Studies, Zhang Tuosheng, said on the sidelines of a dialogue between Chinese and ASEAN senior defense experts.

His remarks were in response to the Pentagon's annual report on 皇冠体育app's military power, which says: "皇冠体育app's expanding and improving military capabilities are changing East Asian military balances".

皇冠体育app has taken pains to clarify the purpose of its rising military budget by issuing white papers, and through Defense Ministry spokesmen, frequent joint military drills, visits by Chinese warships to foreign ports and military dialogues at various levels, including the ongoing one with ASEAN, he said.

The 皇冠体育app-ASEAN dialogue on "Military Modernization and Mutual Trust Building" has drawn 25 senior military experts.

The dialogue that began on Tuesday will continue till Saturday and focus on mainly four topics, including the purpose of 皇冠体育app's military modernization and defensive strategy.

Colonel Yao Yunzhu, an expert in Asia-Pacific military studies with the Academy of Military Sciences (AMS), said secessionist activities in Taiwan is the greatest concern for 皇冠体育app and the main reason behind its military programs.

皇冠体育app is also trying to raise the living conditions of its troops and tackle non-traditional threats such as terrorism, epidemics and natural disasters, Yao said.

AMS President Lt-Gen Liu Chengjun reiterated: "皇冠体育app's military modernization conforms to the State policy of pursuing the road of peaceful development and building a harmonious world".

The Philippines' military attache to 皇冠体育app Arthur Ang found 皇冠体育app's military modernization "understandable" after listening to yesterday's presentations.

"One good thing is that 皇冠体育app is open and willing to build mutual confidence through such dialogues that can help us understand how and why it is modernizing its armed forces."