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US fears grow over China military US fears grow over China military
(about 2 hours later)
The United States has expressed concern over China's growing military might, in a Pentagon report given to Congress. The US has expressed concern over China's growing military might.
It particularly highlights China's new Jin-class nuclear submarines and what it believes are increasingly accurate air-to-ground missiles. A Pentagon report given to Congress says Beijing is spending far more on its military budget than admitted and calls for greater transparency.
These capabilities could lead to a change in China's no-first-use policy for its nuclear weapons, analysts say. The report highlights China's greater ability to mount pre-emptive strikes, citing new submarines, unmanned combat aircraft and sophisticated missiles.
China announced in March that it was increasing its military spending by 17.8% this year. China said in March it was increasing its military spending by 17.8% in 2007 but it still lags far behind the US.
Speaking before the report was released, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said: "We wish that there were greater transparency, that (the Chinese) would talk more about what their intentions are, what their strategies are. The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington says the Pentagon paints a picture of a country whose growing economic and political power is being mirrored in "a comprehensive military transformation".
''It would be nice to hear first-hand from the Chinese how they view some of these things," he added in comments reported by the Associated Press news agency. The annual report says Beijing is moving towards a more pre-emptive defence strategy with the focus on its border areas.
One issue that appears to be of concern to US officials is China's development of a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines equipped with ballistic missiles with a range of around 8,000km (5,000 miles). It would be nice to hear first-hand from the Chinese... we wish there were greater transparency, that they would talk more about what their intentions are Robert GatesUS Defence Secretary
Andrew Yang, chairman of the Chinese Council for Advanced Policy Studies in Taiwan, said these Jin-class vessels could carry 12 missiles, with each rocket armed with three nuclear warheads. It suggests that the possibility of US intervention in any crisis in the Taiwan Strait is an important factor in China's military planning.
'Gradual build-up' The report also describes a successful anti-satellite weapon test conducted by the Chinese in January as posing a threat to "all space-faring nations".
One of these Chinese-built submarines is currently undergoing tests, and five more are planned, according to Mr Yang, an expert on China's military. As in previous reports, there was strong complaint about a lack of transparency in both China's military spending and its military aims.
Previously, China had just one nuclear-powered submarine, which had been so unreliable it rarely travelled far from its base, Mr Yang said. The publication of the report comes at the end of a week when a high level Chinese delegation has been in Washington discussing areas of economic tension - and is a further sign that the levels of trust between Washington and Beijing are currently not very high, our correspondent says.
'Nuclear forces'
The Pentagon report highlights concerns about China's preparations to deploy a mobile, land-based ballistic missile, with a range that reportedly covers the entire United States.
China is adding a new class of nuclear submarine to existing stockThe development of a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, equipped with ballistic missiles with a range of more than 8,000km (5,000 miles), is also cited.
Experts say the Jin-class vessels are capable of carrying 12 missiles, with each rocket armed with three nuclear warheads.
One of these Chinese-built submarines is currently undergoing tests, and five more are planned, says Andrew Yang of the Chinese Council for Advanced Policy Studies in Taiwan.
Previously China had just one nuclear-powered submarine, which was so unreliable it rarely travelled far from its base, Mr Yang said.
He added: "The Americans are concerned about whether a gradual build-up of nuclear forces implies China will change its nuclear policy of no first use."He added: "The Americans are concerned about whether a gradual build-up of nuclear forces implies China will change its nuclear policy of no first use."
The report adds that training focusing on no-notice, long-range air strikes could "indicate planning for pre-emptive military options in advance of regional crises". Natural consequence
Also highlighted in the 2007 Department of Defense Report to Congress on the "Military Power of the People's Republic of China" was a space test carried out by China in January. Over the last 15 years, China has been engaged in a massive military build-up and modernisation programme.
It destroyed a defunct weather satellite with a missile fired from Sichuan province. It plans to allocate 350.9bn yuan ($45.9bn) to its military this year, although some analysts say Beijing spends double or treble this amount.
"The test put at risk the assets of all space-faring nations and posed dangers to human space flight due to the unprecedented amount of debris," AP quoted the report as saying. However, the BBC's defence correspondent Rob Watson says US opinion is divided over the strategic challenge posed by China.
International pressure Some see it as an emerging threat that must be countered at every turn - others take a more benign view, seeing China's increased military expenditure as a natural consequence of its growing economic power, our correspondent says.
Over the last decade, China has embarked on a programme to upgrade its military capabilities.
It plans to allocate 350.9bn yuan ($45.9bn) to its military this year, although many analysts believe it spends two or three times more than this.
China has also come under increasing pressure from the US, Japan and others to be more open about what it is spending its money on.
But despite the US concern, there are those who believe the US is exaggerating China's military threat in order to make a stronger case for an upgrade of US military capabilities.
This was the main finding of a report published last November by the Federation of American Scientists and the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council.
"The Pentagon has been sounding the alarm about China's nuclear intentions for a long time, but our analysis shows that they are overstating the threat," said Robert S Norris, an NRDC nuclear analyst and co-author of the report.