China military boost aimed partly at region: US

Washington, May 26: China's rapid military expansion appears to be partly aimed at increasing its ability to handle regional crises, like conflicts over resources or territory, the Pentagon said in a report released today.

The report also said China's shooting down of one of its own satellites with a missile in a test earlier this year ''poses dangers to human space flight and puts at risk the assets of all space faring nations.'' The document, the Pentagon's annual report to the US Congress on China's military power, said that while Beijing maintained its traditional focus on the Taiwan Strait as a potential flashpoint, it also seemed to be looking elsewhere.

''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 missile units at various locations in China 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.

It said Chinese military documents focused increasingly on the importance of securing communications routes and resources needed to fuel the country's booming economy.

''The related desire to protect energy investments in Central Asia... could also provide an incentive for military investment or intervention if instability surfaces in the region,'' the report said.

Call For Clarity

Repeating an often-stated US complaint, the report said China had not made clear why it was expanding its military capabilities despite the absence of any major threat.

''While China is embarked on a significant military modernization, the transparency of China's effort, while improving, is far from complete,'' said a US defense official, briefing journalists on the report on condition of anonymity.

China's officials often speak of a ''peaceful rise'' in hopes of dispelling fears about its surge in economic and military power.

But the Pentagon report said: ''China's actions in certain areas increasingly appear inconsistent with its declaratory policies.'' It said January's anti-satellite test had demonstrated China's ability to attack satellites operating in a low orbit.

''The direct ascent ASAT (anti-satellite) system is one component of a multi-dimensional program to generate the capability to deny others access to outer space,'' it said.

The report also said China was modernizing its longer-range ballistic missile force with more mobile and robust systems.

The report said China's new DF-31 intercontinental ballistic missile would likely achieve operational status in the near future, if it has not already done so.

A longer range variant, the DF-31A, was expected to have an initial operating capacity this year, the report said.

In March, China said it would boost defense spending by 17.8 percent to about 45 billion dollars.

But the Pentagon report said the US Defense Intelligence Agency estimated China's total military-related spending for 2007 could be between 85 billion and 125 billion dollar.

Reuters>