China Says Pentagon Report Hypes Chinese Military Threat

BEIJING -- China's Defense Ministry has accused the Pentagon of hyping Chinese military power and its threat to Taiwan in a depiction that will ultimately undermine ties between the two militaries.

The annual Pentagon report to Congress on China's military always draws strenuous objections from Beijing. This year's report – which outlined a Chinese military modernization effort that is gaining momentum – comes as both Washington and Beijing are encouraging their militaries to built trust and improve communications.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said the Pentagon report exaggerates Chinese defense capabilities, falsely accuses China of launching cyber-attacks and plays up a military edge over rival Taiwan to boost U.S. weapon sales.

In remarks posted on the ministry's website on Monday, Geng said the Pentagon report is at odds with that effort.

"At the time when the relations between the two armies are on the rise, the U.S. stubbornly sticks to ways of casting doubts on and discrediting China," said Geng. He said China demands that the U.S. "stop making comments not conducive to China-U.S. relations and the mutual trust between the two armies."

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Comments

[Vader 2112]

12:47 PM on 05/24/2012

China demands that the U.S. "stop making comments not conducive to China-U.S. relations and the mutual trust between the two armies." In other words, if you were a citizen of china we would have thrown you into a deep dark hole where no one will ever see you again.

[westral]

02:07 AM on 05/24/2012

According to figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute we spent $711 billion on the military in 2011 whereas China spent $143 billion. My guess is that China has the capability of making it difficult for the USA to operate near the Chinese coast it does not have any major capacity to project power at a distance from its shores.

[loki]

11:42 PM on 05/23/2012

we cant afford to go to war with China. First of all, how would we afford it? Right now they are financing the bulk of all our military and have been since W's reign of terror. I have no doubt the Chinese will not give us billions to fight a way with us. And you know the super rich wont contribute it, they think others tax money should pay to protect them. So thats out.
Also, if we did have a major conflict with China, all they have to do is stop sending products our way, and we are finished in a matter of days. We dont make jack here anymore, and it would take years to get production up again, after we handed it all to the Chinese over the last 20 years in the name of larger profits for a small few super rich American Capitalist.
nope, China has us by the bullocks, and they know it, and we know it.

[ABM777]

09:58 PM on 05/23/2012

Mr. Yangsheng stop diverting and hiding the truth. It is well known that at least 80% of all cyber attacks against major corporations and U.S government agencies originate in China. It is estimated that they possess enough hacked secret information to fill the Library of Congress. China has a huge program dedicated to steal technology. Their goal is clear and concise. They intend to be number one in everything, and I mean everything. They have near inhuman patience and will stop at nothing. They will take any opportunity to weaken the U.S. and eventually will crush us. If estimates are correct that by the end of the 21st century, their economy will be at least twice as large as ours, we are in for a rough century. Meanwhile, GE gives away its avionics technology to gain access into the Chinese market. Where was the Obama administration to stop GE from giving away its technology secrets? Here is a prime example of corporate greed trumping national security.

[batsabil]

10:57 PM on 05/23/2012

I completely agree with you

[loki]

11:43 PM on 05/23/2012

How true!

[Daniel Alman]

03:03 PM on 05/23/2012

China is no military threat... So is any country that is facing armed internal conflict...

[loki]

11:50 PM on 05/23/2012

yup, no military threat. cause they would just stop loaning us billions every year to pay for our military acts, like they have since W started the borrowing for his invasions and wars and Obama has continued on with, like a good political puppet does. Once China cut the money, and then cut the shipping of products to the US, we would be done for. So your right, China is no Military threat, they never have to issue a single bullet to a single Chinese soldier to beat our butts.

[MMeier25]

12:02 PM on 05/23/2012

The Chinese government brainwashes the Chinese people. The US government brainwashes the world.

[bi-partizan]

03:25 PM on 06/07/2012

May I suggest white Asparagus soup..it will clean your system

[dead WASP]

10:06 AM on 05/23/2012

Excellent article on the PLA in Foreign Policy...

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/04/16/rotting_from_within

[waldopepper]

05:15 AM on 05/23/2012

Wouldn't it be nice to spend less on defence and use that money for things that are desperately needed. Instead of corporate welfare - which is what wildly excessive defence spending is. I wonder how much debt will be needed to make that day a reality.

[Angelaaaa]

01:59 AM on 05/23/2012

Admittedly, these ARE the people who sold us WMD in Iraq. (Remember? The people-mincer, the long-range missiles, the horrors of biological warfare .... we're all going to D I E ! AAGHHH! Oh ... wait ... )

So let's not get too sold on our own intelligence assessments. Last time it was SERIOUSLY embarrassing.

[Sans Octavian]

11:59 PM on 05/22/2012

Typical Chinese response - don't look at us, it's America and Japan's fault.

[loki]

11:44 PM on 05/23/2012

are they wrong?

[seanp1974]

11:25 PM on 05/22/2012

China has a strong army. All other branchs are very weak compared even to the Russans. No one will invade that country and the army is used to beat down there citizens. Now, the cyber crap they are probably very good at and that is a real issue for many countries including US.

[loki]

11:46 PM on 05/23/2012

and they couldn't have done it without the help of a few of the richest in the USA handing them the technologies and knowledge, in their search for higher profits and lower cost. You can thank a few of the good old greed driven US capitalist for China's fast and powerful rise to power.

[ElCojonuo]

08:17 PM on 05/22/2012

Folks, I don't think we'll be fighting any more land wars in Asia, we haven't done that well over there in case you haven't heard ( those guys FIGHT BACK and KNOW HOW TO FIGHT ).
China will take over Taiwan from within without having to fire a shot; they have the example of Hong Kong and lots of money and time on their side; don't forget, the Chinese are very patient and wise.
They want Taiwan intact ( it's part of their country, after all ).

[seanp1974]

11:21 PM on 05/22/2012

What are you talking about hong knog. 99 year lease was up and it reverted back to Chinese control.

[ElCojonuo]

10:20 AM on 05/23/2012

Britain could have said the following, BUT DIDN'T :

' Lease, what lease ?, we don't need no stinckin' lease '
( from ' The Treasure of the Sierra Madre ' )
Guess they knew better, don't you think ?

[Rich Cash]

11:56 PM on 05/22/2012

Seriously?
1. The Nazi's and the Japanese FOUGHT BACK and KNEW HOW TO FIGHT, but we kicked their butts.
2. I lived in Taiwan for four years. The Taiwanese are pure capitalists and have one of the highest per capita standards of living in Asia. They aren't going to give that up without a fight.
3. Great Britain's lease on Hong Kong expired. They were legally required to return control of Hong Kong to China. Believe me, the vast majority of Hong Kong residents would have much preferred to remain under the loose control of the British.

[ElCojonuo]

10:15 AM on 05/23/2012

They didn't have NUKES and 1.3 BILLION people.
China's the RICHEST country around right now.
Got any more ?

[byronic]

06:55 PM on 05/22/2012

Chinese speak with forked tongue...

[ElCojonuo]

07:53 PM on 05/22/2012

...... and fat wallets.

[jcko]

08:17 PM on 05/22/2012

Yes. You have to be white to be honest and honourable.

[composerr]

04:59 PM on 05/22/2012

Of course, the Chinese Military would like to pooh pooh, the fact that they are spending much
of the Dollars that they make from American consumers buying their poor quality Goods, to
build a strong military.

Consider the new Missile that they are building primarily to be able to take out American
Aircraft Carriers that would be operating in the South Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese Area.
That certainly is not hype.

We must never forget that this Red Communist Country still controlled by their Military
Commanders that were willing to gun down student in the Tiniamin Square, are also
the same ones that Crossed over into North Korea, after MacArthur's troops had thrown
back the North Korean Invasion of South Korea in the 50's, and caused upward toward
50,000 American troops to be killed in that War which was against the US and UN forces.

They still back Iran when we try to control them with Sanctions, and they do not try to control
North Korea's efforts for Nuclear Power. The new COLD WAR should still be acknowledged
as being between China and the USA just like the USA-Russian Cold war that existed.
We should also be on the alert for this Godless Communist Country. They are not our
friends, and my personal efforts about trade with them is the ABC Rule. Buy Anywhere
but China, as we should not be building up their Military as the present Administration is
weakening our own National Defense.

An army combat Veteran

[Tsvi1]

07:22 AM on 05/24/2012

Those protests were about the fact that the government wasn't communist enough.

From wiki
"Following the 1988 Beidaihe meeting, the party leadership under Deng Xiaoping agreed to a transition to a market-based price system.[15][16] News of the relaxation of price controls triggered waves of cash withdrawals, buying and hoarding all over China.[17] The government panicked and rescinded the price reforms in less than two weeks, but its impact was pronounced for a much longer period of time. Inflation soared. Official indices report a Consumer Price Index increase of 30% in Beijing between 1987–88, leading to panic among salaried workers that they could no longer afford staple goods.[18] Moreover, in the new market economy, unprofitable state-owned enterprises were pressured to cut costs. The "iron rice bowl", i.e., job security and a host of social benefits that come with it, ranging from medical care to subsidized housing, were at risk for a vast segment of the population.[18][19]"

[nelson rivera]

04:36 PM on 05/22/2012

China is Building a Strong Military because they want no one to tell them what to do. Plus they would like to have Taiwan back in the fold One day soon.China has a Strong Military to keep their people in line too. It appears to be a Police State. When Foreigners come to China to Film the Lovely cities and Countryside of China, they are Harassed. The Chinese People are Wonderful Good People. China Fear their own People more than anything else.

[BraveWarrior]

08:32 PM on 05/22/2012

Yeah, like the Russian police, NYPD, Oakland PD, etc-try marching peacefully for change in any major US city. Make sure to protect your lungs and head.