Pentagon questions growing Chinese military power

China's rapidly growing military strength is shifting the military balance in the region and could be used to force its claims in disputed territories, a Pentagon report said Wednesday. Beijing continues to develop weapons that threaten longtime rival Taiwan, even though tensions between the two have been reduced significantly, the report said. It added that China is also developing longer range capabilities that could have an affect beyond the Asia-Pacific region. The latest in a series of annual assessments for Congress of China's military power, the report says the U.S. "welcomes the rise of a stable, peaceful and prosperous China and encourages China to participate responsibly" in world affairs. "However, much uncertainty surrounds China's future course, particularly regarding how its expanding military power might be used," the report said.

It comes in the wake of heightened tensions between the U.S. and China. Chinese vessels this month harassed the Navy surveillance ship USNS Impeccable in international waters in the South China Sea; and U.S.-China military-to-military talks had just been resumed a week earlier after a five-month suspension over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. During meetings with China officials after the Navy incident, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said both sides have agreed on the need to reduce tensions and avoid a repeat of the confrontation. The new report notes that the People's Liberation Army is remaking itself into a force that can fight and win short, intense conflicts against high-tech adversaries. "The pace and scope of China's military transformation have increased in recent years," fueled by the purchase of advanced foreign weapons, continued high rates of spending on new technologies and far-reaching reforms in the armed forces, the report said. "It's armed forces continue to develop and field disruptive military technologies," it said, referring to anti-satellite weapons like one tested in 2007, satellite communications jammers and others.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949 and Beijing says it is intent on eventual unification, by persuasion if possible but by force if considered necessary. The report said China's growing muscle could be used to pressure Taiwan toward a settlement on the issue "while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict," the report said. At this point, the U.S. still is able to defend against a Beijing attack on Taiwan, it said. It said some of Beijing's new capabilities could allow China to "project power to ensure access to resources or enforce claims to disputed territories." Among its disputes, for instance, China claims sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands — claims challenged in part or whole by Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. While China and India have improved relations, tensions continue along their shared border. House Armed Services Chairman Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo. said he was concerned that China's military budget continues a trend of double-digit increases and that "questions remain about China's strategic intentions." The report estimated 2008 China's military-related spending at between $105 billion to $150 billion, roughly double that of a decade ago.

The report noted China has also used its new powers for good, such as in relief missions. "I am also encouraged by China's recent involvement in counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden," Skelton said in a statement. "This demonstrates a responsible use of China's military power, in line with its international responsibilities, of which I hope to see more."

Posted in: China,USA