May 22 – The U.S. Defense Department has recently presented an annual report to Congress which provides an outline of China’s military and security developments.
The report says that China is pursuing military modernization aimed at winning “local wars under conditions of informatisation.” Furthermore, it states that such modernization will allow China to expand its economic and diplomatic interests, maximize its leverage over Taiwan, while avoiding conflict around its own borders and with the United States.
Perhaps controversially, the report also claims that China is aggressively pursuing cyber espionage, and has been responsible for cyberspace intrusions against U.S. computers.
China has negatively responded to the release of this report, claiming that much of its information is false, or provided in the wrong context. Chinese Foreign Minister Spokesman Hong Lei said that the report was irresponsible in its claims, and that China was not a military threat.
“China is developing its limited military forces only to protect its national independence and sovereignty,” Hong said. “No country needs to worry if it harbors no hostility toward China.”
Hong further stated that if the U.S. ceased to produce such reports it would promote more trust and harmony between China and the Unites States.
The complete report can be accessed here.
Related Reading
China Caught Unprepared by Obama’s Aggressive Asian Tour
China Plays the Usual Suspect in Latest Cyber Espionage Incident
