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US tries a tougher stick with its carrot

A new assessment of China's military power issued by the Pentagon last week is notable for a subtle but distinct shift in tone, being more firm and candid than in previous appraisals.

The review stopped short of accusing the Chinese of being devious or lying, but was headed in that direction.

The Pentagon's evaluation, as before, laments a lack of 'transparency' in Chinese objectives and strategy, asserting that the Chinese publish 'incomplete defence expenditure figures and engage in actions that appear inconsistent' with Beijing's declarations.

Throughout the report, China is more sharply criticised for 'creating uncertainty and increasing the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation'. Corruption 'remains pervasive, structural, and persistent'. In the People's Liberation Army (PLA), which comprises all of China's military forces, corruption includes 'bribery for advancement and promotion, unauthorised contracts and projects, and weapons procurement'.

The annual report, which was mandated by Congress, has grown to 78 pages from 56 pages in 2002, and reflects the Pentagon's increased attention to China, the improved ability of US analysts to discern trends in China, and a greater anxiety that China potentially poses a serious threat.

An unnamed senior official who briefed the press on the report in Washington acknowledged the greater apprehension. China's military modernisation, he said, 'is of growing concern to us'.

China's response was swift and bitter. 'China is strongly dissatisfied with it and resolutely opposes it,' Defence Ministry spokesman Hu Changming told the China Daily. 'China unswervingly sticks to a path of peaceful development and pursues a national defence policy which is purely defensive in nature.

'We urge the United States to stop issuing such a report on China's military strength and immediately take effective measures to dispel the baneful influence caused by the report so that bilateral military ties will incur no further damage.' Mr Hu added.

Mr Hu said issuing the report would block resumption of military exchanges with the US that China broke off in October after Washington announced the US would sell US$6.5 billion worth of arms to Taiwan. The US has been trying to get the Sino-US exchanges started again, asserting that dialogue helps to prevent miscalculation.

Several commanders at the Pacific Command, with its headquarters in Hawaii, have quietly cautioned Chinese military leaders not to miscalculate US capabilities and intentions.

The new report brings that out into the open, saying Chinese leaders should realise 'that a conflict over Taiwan involving the US would lead to a long-term hostile relationship between the US and China - a result that would not be in China's interests.'

Richard Halloran is a former New York Times foreign correspondent in Asia and military correspondent in Washington

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