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Pentagon Report Raises Concerns Over China Military Growth

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DoD photo: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Felix Garza

The Chinese government should be more forthcoming on why it needs modern military capabilities, a Defense Department report says.

The Pentagon delivered its much-anticipated report on China’s military advancement to Congress Wednesday.

The Chinese military remains on-schedule in its effort to build a modern, regionally-focused force by 2020, the report said.

The report also said China has made modest improvements in the transparency of its military and security affairs. However, there is uncertainty regarding how China will use its new capabilities.

AFPS reports the Pentagon is also concerned China could use military force to gain diplomatic advantage, advance its interests, or resolve disputes in its favor.

“We will continue, and we do continue, to encourage China to improve transparency and openness, to act in ways that support and strengthen common political, economic and diplomatic interests of the region and of the international community,” said Michael Schiffer, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia.

The AP reports Xinhua, China’s state news agency, called the Pentagon report an exaggeration over the threat China poses to the region.

“The Pentagon, despite striking some positive notes, once again trumped up the notion of ‘China Threat’ when it presented an annual report on the Chinese military to the Congress Wednesday,” the Xinhua story said.

Click here to read the full Pentagon report.

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