Gates Concerned By Rapid Expansion Of Chinese Military
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WASHINGTON, March 5 (AP) – (Kyodo)â€â€Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Wednesday that the United States is concerned about China’s lack of clarity on the rapid expansion of its military spending.
“It is the lack of transparency” that worries Washington, he said during a media roundtable a day after China announced it will boost defense spending by 17.6 percent in 2008.
Gates brushed aside Beijing’s explanation for the military spending, which marked the 20th straight year of double-digit growth in its military budget.
“I think I saw one of the Chinese military spokesmen say that it was largely for salaries and so on. If so, it was a really good year for the Chinese army soldiers,” he said.
“But I think it’s a big part of what we don’t know, or what they don’t describe and include in that budget, that’s as much of a concern as the percentage increase,” he said.
The Pentagon expressed concern earlier this week over how China will use its increasing military power, saying Beijing’s lack of transparency poses risks to stability in East Asia.
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