Pentagon Calls China Most Likely Country To Challenge US Military
Power
By Al Pessin
Washington
04 February 2006



A major policy document published by the U.S. Defense Department Friday
identifies China as the emerging world power most likely to threaten the
U.S. status as the world's only superpower, and the document calls for
several steps to counter that potential threat.

The Defense Department document says China's military buildup "puts
regional military balances at risk." It says the United States needs
"counter strategies" to deal with any move by China to deploy military
capabilities that could threaten what it calls "traditional U.S. military
advantages."

Still, the document, called the Quadrennial Defense Review, emphasizes a
desire to work with China to moderate its military buildup and to try to
ensure that the country plays a constructive role in world affairs.
Undersecretary of Defense Ryan Henry coordinated the year-long process
behind the wide-ranging document. "We want to partner with them to manage
their successful rise. We think that some of the attributes of that is one
of transparency, one of acquiring military capability but one sufficient
for its regional needs, one that will be a constructive partner in the
community of nations. And we want to work with them to be able to do
that," he said.

Undersecretary Henry indicated that the extent of U.S. willingness to
accept the projection of Chinese military power beyond its immediate area
will depend on what sort of foreign policy the country pursues. "We think
China should have a military capability sufficient to meet its genuine
security needs. Now, how that is translated has a lot to do with what sort
of country (China becomes), and how China is going to be contributing to
world stability," he said.

Undersecretary Henry says the United States needs to be prepared in case
China chooses a course that results in confrontation. "We also want to be
able to have a capability to be able to dissuade (China) from any course
of action or things that would not be helpful that they might do," he
said.

The Quadrennial Defense Review notes that China has increased its defense
spending at least 10 per cent in all but one of the last ten years, and it
laments the fact that the rest of the world knows little of the Chinese
leadership's motivations or goals. It calls on China's leaders to clarify
their military plans.

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld carried that same message on his
first official visit to China last October.

The Pentagon report lays out several challenges for the U.S. military to
confront as it prepares to respond to any hostile moves by China. It says
the United States must develop the capability to sustain its forces over a
long distance, improve the military capabilities of what it calls "partner
states" in Asia and their ability to work with U.S. forces, and improve
multi-lateral intelligence, communications, missile defense and related
capabilities.

The report categorizes China as an "emerging power," along with Russia and
India. But it says China is the most likely of the three "to compete
militarily with the United States." It says Russia is in transition, and
the United States wants to work with it on shared goals, such as fighting
terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The report
says India is emerging as "a great power and a key strategic partner" for
the United States.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-02-04-voa5.cfm

Pentagon Calls China Most Likely Country To Challenge US Military
Power
By Al Pessin
Washington
04 February 2006



A major policy document published by the U.S. Defense Department Friday
identifies China as the emerging world power most likely to threaten the
U.S. status as the world's only superpower, and the document calls for
several steps to counter that potential threat.

The Defense Department document says China's military buildup "puts
regional military balances at risk." It says the United States needs
"counter strategies" to deal with any move by China to deploy military
capabilities that could threaten what it calls "traditional U.S. military
advantages."

Still, the document, called the Quadrennial Defense Review, emphasizes a
desire to work with China to moderate its military buildup and to try to
ensure that the country plays a constructive role in world affairs.
Undersecretary of Defense Ryan Henry coordinated the year-long process
behind the wide-ranging document. "We want to partner with them to manage
their successful rise. We think that some of the attributes of that is one
of transparency, one of acquiring military capability but one sufficient
for its regional needs, one that will be a constructive partner in the
community of nations. And we want to work with them to be able to do
that," he said.

Undersecretary Henry indicated that the extent of U.S. willingness to
accept the projection of Chinese military power beyond its immediate area
will depend on what sort of foreign policy the country pursues. "We think
China should have a military capability sufficient to meet its genuine
security needs. Now, how that is translated has a lot to do with what sort
of country (China becomes), and how China is going to be contributing to
world stability," he said.

Undersecretary Henry says the United States needs to be prepared in case
China chooses a course that results in confrontation. "We also want to be
able to have a capability to be able to dissuade (China) from any course
of action or things that would not be helpful that they might do," he
said.

The Quadrennial Defense Review notes that China has increased its defense
spending at least 10 per cent in all but one of the last ten years, and it
laments the fact that the rest of the world knows little of the Chinese
leadership's motivations or goals. It calls on China's leaders to clarify
their military plans.

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld carried that same message on his
first official visit to China last October.

The Pentagon report lays out several challenges for the U.S. military to
confront as it prepares to respond to any hostile moves by China. It says
the United States must develop the capability to sustain its forces over a
long distance, improve the military capabilities of what it calls "partner
states" in Asia and their ability to work with U.S. forces, and improve
multi-lateral intelligence, communications, missile defense and related
capabilities.

The report categorizes China as an "emerging power," along with Russia and
India. But it says China is the most likely of the three "to compete
militarily with the United States." It says Russia is in transition, and
the United States wants to work with it on shared goals, such as fighting
terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The report
says India is emerging as "a great power and a key strategic partner" for
the United States.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-02-04-voa5.cfm