CHINA / National
'China military is transparent, no threat'
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-04-04 07:17
China's military is transparent and not a threat, Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao said on Monday after the United States and Japan criticized the
Asia giant for not being open enough about a build-up of its defense
forces.
Australian opposition leader Kim Beazley (L) meets with Premier Wen
Jiabao in Canberra, April 3, 2006. [Reuters]
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 defense
capabilities and safeguarding national reunification," Wen told a lunch
meeting in Canberra. [full text of wen's speech]
"Thus China will not pose a threat to anyone. China's defense 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
and urged Beijing to be more transparent.
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