Military strength 'justified'

Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson yesterday brushed aside concerns about China's growing military strength and expressed the wish to cooperate with the People's Liberation Army.

"We think it perfectly appropriate for a country like China to increase its military capabilities" commensurate with the country's economic growth, he said while meeting Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan.

Nelson - in Beijing on his first visit to China since he assumed the post in January last year - also said the Australian military would like to work more closely with China on fighting terrorism, peacekeeping and disaster relief.