2010-08-19 09:06

BEIJING - China on Wednesday lashed out at a Pentagon report on Beijing's defense capabilities, saying it is no good for the recovery of severed military ties.

"Issuing this report is not beneficial for the improvement and development of China-US military ties," Senior Colonel Geng Yansheng, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement faxed to China Daily.

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The report, issued on Monday after a five-month delay, used a whole chapter to blame the current impasse in China-US military contacts on Beijing. Military contacts were frozen in January after Washington tried to push for a $6.4-billion arms deal with Taiwan.

In June, China rejected a proposed visit by the United States defense secretary, which shocked the Pentagon. Experts said the rejection was a result of Washington's insistence on selling weapons to Taiwan.

"It's irresponsible for the US to blame the cut contacts on China," said Senior Colonel Wen Bing, a researcher at the Academy of Military Sciences.

The Pentagon report also said the balance of forces across the Taiwan Straits was continuing to shift in Beijing's favor and that Beijing is reaching out from its traditional realm.

It said the Chinese military was developing in a number of areas including nuclear weapons, long-range missiles, submarines, aircraft carriers and cyber warfare, though it admitted to a lack of proof on some accusations.

Taiwan reacted on Tuesday by renewing its call for the US to sell it advanced weapons, while Japan vowed to "keep paying attention to China's military trend".

"China ... firmly abides by a defensive national defense policy, does not take part in military confrontation and does not pose a military threat to any country," Geng said in the statement.

"We ask the United States ... to refrain from comments and behavior that are not beneficial for mutual trust between the two militaries and Sino-US relations," he said, urging Washington to stop issuing such reports.

Peng Guangqian, a Beijing-based military analyst, said the annual report itself is the product of a "Cold War mentality".

"It is impossible to be objective when the US is defining China as being on the opposite side. Recent US moves showing off its military power in China's backyard also reflect Cold War thinking," he said.

The report's release comes amid deep dissatisfaction in Beijing over joint naval drills between the US and the Republic of Korea in the Yellow Sea. China was also upset by statements last month by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which were seen as unwelcome interference in territorial disputes between China and Southeast Asia nations over the South China Sea.

Also Wednesday, the head of the US military Pacific Command said the US would work to ensure security and protect important trade routes in the South China Sea.

The US military has been present in the region for 150 years and would remain there for many more, Admiral Robert Willard told reporters after meeting the head of the Philippine military.

"We discussed the assertiveness that we're experiencing by the Chinese in the South China Sea and the concerns that has generated within the region," he said.

But only a few days ago Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo told Washington to keep out of the regional issue.

"It's ASEAN and China. Can I make myself clear? It's ASEAN and China. Is that clear enough?" he told reporters.

"Given the current situation, it is pirate's logic for the US to ask China to cease advancing," Peng said, using a Chinese phrase referring to pirates who steal from others, but ask them not to fight back.

"China welcomes the US as a friend, but the US has to behave as a real friend first."

AFP contributed to the story.