China denies expansionist ambitions, defends military growth

[Neo]

China denies expansionist ambitions, defends military growth

* General seeks boost in military-to-military ties with US but deplores maritime incursions

WASHINGTON: Beijing’s rapid military modernisation, including the development of advanced weapons merely meets its minimum defence requirements and the country harbours no expansionist ambitions, a top Chinese general said ahead of high-level meetings at the Pentagon.

General Xu Caihou, the highest level Chinese military official to visit in years of rocky relations between the superpowers, holds talks with Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday amid US concerns over China’s emergence as a potential high tech military rival. But Xu, who is vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, set out Monday by trying to allay US suspicions, insisting that Beijing harbours no expansionist ambitions and wants collaborative international relations.

“We will never seek hegemony, military expansion or an arms race,” he told an audience of foreign policy experts at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. But when asked about its development of cruise and ballistic missiles capable of striking US warships in the Pacific, Xu said Western concerns about China’s aims were unfounded.

“It is a limited capability, and limited weapons and equipment for the minimum requirement of its national security,” he said, speaking through an interpreter. Xu also defended China’s double-digit annual increases in defence spending as “quite low” both in real terms and as a percentage of its gross domestic product. Whereas US defence spending amounts to 4.8 percent of GDP, China’s was only 1.4 percent, he said.

The United States has repeatedly urged China to be more transparent about its military spending, warning of a shifting balance of power in the Asia Pacific region that could arouse misunderstanding and miscalculation. Those fears, plus US desire for greater contact with the Chinese military, were likely to figure prominently in Gates’ talks with Xu, whose position in the China’s political hierarchy makes him the rough equivalent of the US defence secretary.

The visit comes ahead of US President Barack Obama’s first trip to China November 15-18. Xu acknowledged western concern over its growing military might, which was put on display October 1 in a massive parade through Beijing of missiles, fighter jets, and drone aircraft on the 60th anniversary of its founding as a rag-tag guerrilla army. The parade, he said, “was well received in international public opinion. However, I also noted some suspicion and misunderstanding in the press. Some reports were not objective enough.”

Xu portrayed the Peoples Liberation Army as focused primarily on protecting China’s economic development and defending against separatist and extremist challenges, which he said were clearly on the rise. “There is still a huge gap between China and the developed world. We are now predominantly committed to peaceful development, and we will not, and could not, challenge or threaten any other country,” he said.

Military ties: Xu said China wanted to invigorate military-to-military relations with the United States, but warned that Beijing regarded recent incursions into its 200-mile economic zone by US naval vessels as an infringement of its sovereignty. afp

[Jihad]

China has every right to do so.

[macrocks]

China has every right to do so.

How much forked are views from you guys. China is a "Kafir" suppressing the muslim population and still you guys support it just because it gives you access to any latest weapon at price of a crap. And you guys claim to be an Islamic nation while choosing nations based on your Interests.
China has every right to do what it can and so do the rest of the world. And thus Israel too has every right to occupy and murder Palestinian people ?????. Huh.....
How two pronged are your views. Views should just match your interests. Pakistan Paindabad

[Jihad]

Originally Posted by macrocks

How much forked are views from you guys. China is a "Kafir" suppressing the muslim population and still you guys support it just because it gives you access to any latest weapon at price of a crap. And you guys claim to be an Islamic nation while choosing nations based on your Interests.
China has every right to do what it can and so do the rest of the world. And thus Israel too has every right to occupy and murder Palestinian people ?????. Huh.....
How two pronged are your views. Views should just match your interests. Pakistan Paindabad

China's domestic issues surely are worrying for Pakistani muslims, or people who aren't muslim aswell.
The whole world follows the subject if any issues arise.
And no we do not support China only because they sell us their fancy toys, if that's the way you think, then i'm afraid you're a narrow minded person, or one who isn't quite informed.
We are an Islamic nation, however, we do have our boundaries.
Palestinians are muslim, yet they get slaughtered by Israelies.
In the past, we supported the Arabs by sending our airforce pilots off to battle during the Yom Kippur war.
But these days, we cannot afford to meddle into other affairs due to the fact that our own "house" is not in order.

Things need to be set straight at home, economically, politically etc. before we can even think of defending groups, religious parties or whatever abroad.
Right now we are incapable to do so.
I'm pretty sure Pakistani officials have talked with their Chinese counterparts about the issue of Muslim Chinese people in China feeling oppressed and so fort.
I do not know what the outcome was of those talks, perhaps China showed us the door back, or perhaps they have promised to keep in mind Pakistan's interests and worries in this aswell, also because the whole world is watching this.

Pakistan is a nation for all people, not only Islamic people, yes we do have a majority of Muslims, but we still are a nation for every human being to live in and follow their dreams, as much as it is possible in the current mess we appear to be tangled in.
Would we be an "Islamic" nation with the power, influence and might like the U.S.A, then we would be most certainly try and pressurize any party or nation or whatever abroad who are acting agains our interests.
However, if that "acting" and "pressurizing" part is as heavy as what the American foreign policy is and what they're doing right now, (controlling the rest of the world), i'm not sure, don't think so to be honest.

Also, it would be plain stupid to cut ties or deteriorate relations with China over this, I mean, I do not need to explain myself any further as China is a great ally.
Not everything they do from the inside or outside will always be beneficial for us, but the fact of the matter is that they're a good friend, a good neighbour, and we need that especially with India next to us, and surely, you must agree.

[Selma Shirazi]

Originally Posted by macrocks

How much forked are views from you guys. China is a "Kafir" suppressing the muslim population and still you guys support it just because it gives you access to any latest weapon at price of a crap. And you guys claim to be an Islamic nation while choosing nations based on your Interests.
China has every right to do what it can and so do the rest of the world. And thus Israel too has every right to occupy and murder Palestinian people ?????. Huh.....
How two pronged are your views. Views should just match your interests. Pakistan Paindabad

Realpolitik dear is more important than everything else in todays world. You're licking Israel's you know what despite having world third largest muslim population.
There you go, Real Politik! :biggthumpup: