| China’s military budget concerns the US |
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| World Affairs Talk | |
| Friday, 08 June 2007 | |
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The dilemma again came alive after China announced to boost its defence spending by 17.8 percent to about $45 billion in 2007; saying that the increase was to cover higher salaries and pensions, new uniforms, new military schools, and logistics. The US intelligence however estimates that its total real military-related spending for 2007 could be between $85 billion and $125 billion. The US defence Department said in a report released in April 2007 that, while Beijing remained focused on the Taiwan Strait as a potential flashpoint, it also appeared to be looking to project its growing military strength elsewhere. Deputy Chief of the general staff of the People's Liberation Army Zhang Qinsheng rejected the US claim and said that it was a "product of the Cold War mindset". He further said, the report only served to present China as a threat to the international community. Zhang said China's military spending was justified because of the country's enormous size, and because Taiwan remained a threat. To counter North Korea, the US uses many Asian countries and now plans to use China as well. China and the US recently agreed to set up a defence hotline, a move aimed at improving military relations between the countries as Washington grows increasingly wary of China's military build-up. Zhang Qinsheng, said that the issue of a hotline between the Chinese military and the US defence Department will be settled soon, latest by September this year. The US is also studying a joint missile defence system with Japan and Australia to counter growing threats in Asia. The US military already started installing a missile shield in and around Japan to ward off potential threats from North Korea. China-US relation is complex and multi-faceted as they are neither allies nor enemies though the nature of these relations will be a major factor in determining the state of the world in the 21st century. Share & Bookmark             |
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 09 June 2007 ) |
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