China rejects U.S. charges over military potential
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-07 19:29

China 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 China's Jiangsu province February 5, 2006. On February 7, China 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 China had the greatest potential to compete militarily with the United States.

"The report interferes with China's internal affairs by groundlessly accusing China'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 China.

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 China for attention.

The report said China was likely to continue investing in advanced weapons such as ballistic and cruise missiles, air defense systems and submarines.

"The pace and scope of China's military build-up already puts regional military balances at risk," it said.

China 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 China's sole legitimate government -- the "one-China" 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 China'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 China adopted a path of peaceful development and posed no threat to the outside world.

"China 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 China's peaceful development with an objective and positive attitude."