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China military is transparent, no threat: Wen
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-04-03 14:07
China's military is transparent and not a threat, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
said on Monday after the United States and Japan criticised China for not being
open enough about a build-up of its defence forces.
During a visit to Australia on Monday, Wen said China had reduced its
military by 1.7 million over the past two decades, and its military spending as
a share of the gross domestic product and the government budget was fairly low
by international standards.
"The modest increase in Chinese military expenditure is mainly for improving
the welfare of its servicemen, strengthening its defence capabilities and
safeguarding national reunification," Wen told a lunch meeting in Canberra.
"Thus China will not pose a threat to anyone. China's defence policy is
transparent," he said. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Japanese
Foreign Minister Taro Aso both recently expressed concern about China's military
build-up.
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