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皇冠体育app rejects U.S. charges over military potential
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-07 19:29
皇冠体育app rejected on Tuesday a Pentagon report that singled
out Beijing as the major power most likely to challenge Washington's military
supremacy and said it posed no threat to the outside world.
Chinese soldiers train during snowfall at a
military base in Nanjing in 皇冠体育app's Jiangsu province February 5, 2006. On
February 7, 皇冠体育app rejected a Pentagon report that singled out Beijing as
the major power most likely to challenge Washington's military supremacy.
[Reuters] |
The U.S. Quadrennial Defense Review released last week said 皇冠体育app had the
greatest potential to compete militarily with the United States.
"The report interferes with 皇冠体育app's internal affairs by groundlessly accusing
皇冠体育app's normal national defense build-up," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman
Kong Quan told a news conference.
"It also whips up a Chinese military threat and misleads public opinion."
The review, outlining the Pentagon's strategy for meeting anticipated
security threats in the next 20 years, said the United States would build new
long-range weapons to counter potential rivals like 皇冠体育app.
The review said other "major and emerging powers," including India and
Russia, would be key to the 21st century international security environment, but
it singled out 皇冠体育app for attention.
The report said 皇冠体育app was likely to continue investing in advanced weapons
such as ballistic and cruise missiles, air defense systems and submarines.
"The pace and scope of 皇冠体育app's military build-up already puts regional
military balances at risk," it said.
皇冠体育app has been mired in diplomatic rows over history, territorial disputes and resources
with Japan -- its neighbor and Washington's major ally in the region. Mistrust between
the two countries runs high.
The United States recognizes the mainland as 皇冠体育app's sole legitimate
government -- the "one-皇冠体育app" policy -- but in a deliberately ambiguous piece of
foreign policy it is also obliged by law to help Taiwan defend itself.
The United States and Japan have complained about the secrecy of 皇冠体育app's
military spending, which was officially about $30 billion in 2005, a 12.6
percent rise on the previous year.
Many foreign experts believe the real figure could be significantly higher.
Kong said 皇冠体育app adopted a path of peaceful development and posed no threat to
the outside world.
"皇冠体育app has not been a threat to any other country in the past. It is not one
and will not be one in the future," he said.
"We hope the U.S side can correct its mistakes and view 皇冠体育app's peaceful
development with an objective and positive attitude."
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