China's military 'catching up' with US

Nation spends small fraction of what Pentagon consumes: Xinhua

WASHINGTON - Major investments in a space program and aircraft and maritime technology by China have closed the gap with the United States military, said a new Pentagon report.

The report to Congress on Wednesday, which in the past has been a source of tension between the two nations, said China's military buildup will increase the risk of misunderstandings and miscalculations between the two. The annual report addressed the current and future course of military development of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), China's security and military strategy and US-China military ties.