 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
US view of China's military threat 'groundless': state media
Beijing (AFP) Sept 18, 2009 Washington's view that China's increasingly advanced weaponry could undermine US military power in the Pacific were "groundless and irresponsible," China's defence ministry said Thursday. "China's military development is always a positive factor for both regional and global peace and stability," Hu Changming, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence, was quoted as saying by official news agency Xinhua. Hu's comments were made in response to a speech by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who said Wednesday US naval carriers and air bases in the Pacific faced new threats from China's modernisation. "In fact, when considering the military-modernisation programs of countries like China, we should be concerned less with their potential ability to challenge the US symmetrically -- fighter to fighter or ship to ship -- and more with their ability to disrupt our freedom of movement and narrow our strategic options," Gates said in a speech to the Air Force Association. Gates speech followed Tuesday's release of the 2009 National Intelligence Strategy document, in which China's "natural resource-focused diplomacy and military modernisation" were cited as factors making it a "global challenge." Hu said in a statement reported by Xinhua that China had "always pursued a national defence policy that is defensive in nature and unswervingly follows a road of peaceful development." "We demand the US side to respect (this) fact, take measures to correct the wrong comments and stop doing things that undermine the military relations between the two countries," Hu was quoted as saying.
earlier related report "We urge the US side to abandon its Cold War mentality and bias... and stop issuing remarks that mislead the American people and harm mutual trust between China and the United States," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said. In a statement posted on the ministry's website, Jiang urged the United States to correct "mistakes" in the report. The United States released its 2009 National Intelligence Strategy document Tuesday, in which China's "natural resource-focused diplomacy and military modernisation" were pinpointed as factors making it a "global challenge." However, Jiang sought to ease fears about Beijing's intentions. "China has always been a firm force in safeguarding and promoting world peace and stability, and China's development does not threaten any country," she said. The US intelligence guidelines for the next four years also elevated the importance of the cyber domain, and singled out China as "very aggressive in the cyberworld." Jiang made no reference to that specific claim. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Japan's new PM wants trust, openness with ObamaTokyo (AFP) Sept 16, 2009 A week ahead of his debut on the world stage, Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Wednesday he wants to build a "relationship of trust" but also frankness with US President Barack Obama. Hatoyama is set to meet Obama, China's president Hu Jintao and other world leaders at the UN General Assembly and climate change talks in New York, and a Group of 20 summit in Pittsburgh on ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook