Asia-Pacific

US 'wary of China's military growth'

By Zhang Haizhou in Beijing and Tan Yingzi in Washington (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-03 07:47

Attitude 'constructive'

But despite emphasizing its concern about China, Washington "welcomes a strong, prosperous, and successful China that plays a greater global role", the QDR said.

"The United States and China should sustain open channels of communication to discuss disagreements in order to manage and ultimately reduce the risks of conflict that are inherent in any relationship as broad and complex as that shared by these two nations," it continued.

Chinese analysts see such message as good for bilateral ties.

"It may be the most constructive QDR I have ever read," said Fan Jishe, an expert on US defense affairs at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"The US is very concerned about China's military development. It urges China be more transparent. (But) the US's attitude is very constructive by calling for talks to address these issues," Fan said.

"The US is managing cooperation with China," he said, adding some may even question the QDR for being not tough enough toward Beijing.

In its official blog, the US Naval Institute has already said the QDR has paid little focus on China's "naval presence". "The inherent danger in such a practice is the strategic space it gives potential adversaries to maneuver and accomplish long-term goals - like establishing overseas bases," the blogger writes.

Senior Colonel Zhao Xiaozhuo, an expert on US military affairs at Beijing-based Academy of Military Science, noted that China has been sticking to a defensive rather than offensive national defense policy.

"China's military development doesn't target on any other country. No one wants to be an enemy of the super power," Zhao said.

Commenting on the QDR, he said the US will now pay more attention to "imminent" dangers. "Iraq and Afghanistan are still key issues for Obama during the following years of his tenure."