US and China's verbal duel
Earlier this year, the US and China engaged in a duel of human rights reports. The US Department of State released a report on human rights in China, followed by China publishing its own report on human rights in the United States.
Now we have a semi-sequel. The US defence department has just released a report on "Military power of the People's Republic of China 2009"[pdf link].
Among the 78-page report's conclusions...
"Over the past several years, China has begun a new phase of military development by beginning to articulate roles and missions for the PLA [People's Liberation Army] that go beyond China's immediate territorial interests, but has left unclear to the international community the purposes and objectives of the PLA's evolving doctrine and capabilities. Moreover, China continues to promulgate incomplete defense expenditure figures and engage in actions that appear inconsistent with its declaratory policies. The limited transparency in China's military and security affairs poses risks to stability by creating uncertainty and increasing the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation."
China has delivered its response, which can be summarised in four words: mind your own business.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, told a briefing that the Pentagon's report was a "gross distortion of the facts and an interference into China's internal affairs... Stop making groundless accusations against China".
The verbal duelling between the two countries goes to the heart of a fundamental issue: how do two powers with global military ambitions co-exist?
In particular - following this month's confrontation between the US and China in the South China Sea - is there enough room for two military powers off the coast of China?
I’m 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~40~RS~)
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is there enough room for two military powers off the coast of China? --- what a joke. At the coast of China, shouldnt be chinese military power protecting her own coast? US travel half world to deploy military in front of other countried face seems ok for you. China develop military power seems unexceptable. What a double standard thinking. Military threat is always a two side effect. If US backoff and not deploy Aircraft carrier, Destroyer and F22, then China shouldnt worry that much. This report is more about to promote the Chinese threat within public and help to boost military spending in US and help the company that made the weapons.
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Those in the picture are musicians but not soldiers
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You said it right James: "Is there enough room for two military powers off the coast of China?" Now, assuming country A is a "military power," surely there cannot be a question of whether A is allowed to be itself (i.e. the "military power") off its own coast?!!! No no! Country B must be the military power off A's coast! How incredibly indefensible is such a position?
Further, a reading of the U.S. report can likewise be summarized in short order. "We are afraid of what we don't know." On the one hand, China is held responsible for many international matters, with other nations conveniently stating how China must assume a leadership role in world affairs now that it is a power. Somehow, Darfur became China's fault and, indeed, China's obligation to fix.
And, yet, as China begins to act accordingly in that global role (i.e. sending ships to combat pirates off the coast of Somalia, as the U.S. and Japan have done, as the pirates have become a menace to ships of all nations sailing those waters), that VERY REASON is now used on this report to stir up phobia as to China's military capabilities, simply because it is "unclear" and of "limited transparency?" Wow. I am astounded at the reasoning, simply astounded. I would have to suppose, then, that the operations of the CIA and U.S. Special Forces are 100% "clear" and "transparent" to China?
What is going on here is what has always gone on. We can't allow you to have capabilities we've had for years. We must be allowed to be a military power off your coast. We will criticize you for lacking transparency when we do not offer any ourselves. James, I am sure you're savvy enough to know why that "unarmed" U.S. vessel was off the coast in the S. China Sea doing "survey work" in "international waters." It couldn't possibly have anything to do with China's new submarine base at Hainan could it? It's amazing that China, acting in the interest of national security to prevent surveying of routes upon which her submarines must depend, off its own coast ... have in turn become the aggressors!
In conclusion, I wonder if the reference to "misunderstanding" and "miscalculation" refers to the "out-dated maps" which caused the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia. Ahh, THAT kind of misunderestimation (cheers, Dubya) ... how implicitly threatening of you, Washington.
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One key difference between PLA and defense forces of other nations is that PLA is sworn oath first to the protect the party, country and people. Party comes first before everything else. Thats why its such a reliable backing to the current communist regime. People have called for changes to 'nationalise' the army but to no avail. All such demands have been turned down by high ranking army officials.
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Sound is funny but China has limited manufacturing capabilities when it comes to high tech weaponry like jets, missiles or carriers.
But "peaceful" China so disparate to obtain modern military technologies that it steals technologies from everybody. During 1990's China bought/stolen bunch of Russia technologies (from half built carrier/submarines to tanks, jets, ammo). Today China sells Arjar (T-72) tanks to Pakistan. China Type 95 jet is stolen Su-27 etc (Russia never license them to China). It comes to the point that despite temptation of huge sales Russia refuse to let Chines test new equipment (Su-35) on China soil :).
We all hear how US routinely complain that another Chinese scientist passed classified info back to China.
Chinese claim that "China above politic and only about free trade" translates that China sells weapons to Iran, N.Korea etc. Most local conflicts todays are fought with either Russian or Chinese weapons.
So people who don't like US dominance here is your new half Communist half Capitalist savor.
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what's the problem? how much the us spends on their military power? how many times more than the chinese?
I dont understand what are the points in their report.
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The focus of China's ongoing military development is to enable it to "fight local wars under high-tech conditions". This is hardly a global military ambition, especially when it is still struggling to simply hold itself together.
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It's astonishing that this is an issue and even makes the news. Everybody knows that China is modernising its forces. And why on earth shouldn't it? Military spending in the US is an order of magnitude greater than China and the US still has the most modern and potent military force bar none. Yet western media outlets always refer to Russian or Chinese "military" spending whilst at the same time refer to friendly countries spending on "defense".
How much transparency does the US and NATO expect from a country that is effectively a competitor in global issues and resources? Do they expect each and every project to be detailed and handed to them on a plate?
As for the question "is there enough room for two military powers off the coast of China?". Who's coast is it anyway? Do China or Russia have bases within spitting distance of the US, do they conduct naval manouvers off the US coast? It's about time we in the west start getting used to being an equal player on the global stage rather than being the bully boy that always gets its way.
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The US military are really losing their credibility. China is over 4 times the size of the US and spends much less on their military.
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US Pentagon's report also says that "(China's) pursuit of sophisticated weaponry was altering Asia's military balance and could be used to enforce Beijing's claims over disputed territories".
In other words, the Pentagon wants to see a weak China like the China of the 1800s and 1900s which is not capable of safeguarding its territories.
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The US must stop its regular accusatory and duplicitous outlook towards China as it has towards Iran (under Obama). Secrecy exists in the US military, as much as it does in the Chinese. If the US expects other nations to be transparent, then it should be so too. American exceptionalism has got to end and a new world of cooperation based on egalitarian mutual respect should be the way forward.
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"Two powers with global military" ambitions? Really?
Please explain a little more about China's military "ambitions", beyond Formosa and Tibet.
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How do they co-exist? Just fine, thx.
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I think a strong China will be good. It balance the whole world and we will not face great evils like iraq war, gaza slaughter, South Ossetia attack.
I think China should increase their military budget even more to be around the same as US and at the same time stop lending US money. In this way, they can start to sell weapons to friends just like US.
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Not so much "mind your own business". More "you don't know what you're talking about". A small but worthy distinction.
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The idea of a verbal duel between China and the USA is the invention of Cold War Vestiges.
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The world need a strong country to counter US hedgmony and the only country in the world that can do this is China. The current economic crisie was the result of US leadership and USA is intent in dragging the rest of the world down to save its own skin. I was pleased China stood up to the US and inform world economies to turn away from the worthless dollars and invest in a international currency because US government and its managment of world financial affairs cannot be trusted. The Chinese is absolutely correct.
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Mind your own business.
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I don't so much fear China as I do the USA . The USA has caused itself , and the World , massive damage . It retains by far the largest military force in the World . China is maneuvering itself into the vacuums created by the USA . The dangerous thing is that the USA - like a wounded animal - will lash out . That could only lead to one thing - a nuclear war - which will cause much further damage to the whole World . The potential for massive damage is huge ! Obama has to take leadership from the USA side on this - he can't rely on Secretary of State Clinton - she just doesn't have the wherewith all to handle it . We don't need a macho game - we need good concrete peaceful results . Ultimately the USA is going the way of all big empires - it needs to accept this fact , grow up and go away peacefully - otherwise it might not have a World to go away to .
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I am so glad the US is showing their chicken thinking to the world.
There were never any balance of power in East Asia, it was always under US rule and for over 50 years the US had been bullying their way thru the conquered Asian countries like they own it.
Change, finally. Yes we better.
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Military data is national security information. You can be sentence to death for treason if you reveal it to foreign agents. No nation gives complete details or even close to complete details of its military. It absolutely makes no sense for any nation to do so. Why the US thinks they should have more details is just more smoke and mirrors to create distractions to their hidden agenda. Perhaps they want to sound tough after the recent South China Sea accident or maybe they want the world to forget they borrowed a trillion dollar from China. Some of that debt is going to the US military in Afghanistan and Iraq among other places.
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James, I guess the love & hate relationship between east and west is very evident.
For the survival of humanity, I hope that a mutual respect, compromise and understanding can be achieved. It is sad that a lot of histories were forgotten. Chinese and Allied forces (US, Briton, etc) were fighting the Japanese together and Chiang Kai Shek's general, Sun Li Ren actually saved the British forces encircled by the Japanese in Burma during WWII. The American's Flying Tigers have saved a large part of China from Japanese air bombings.
In my humble opinion, simply because Chinese wish to adopt the “evil communism” and experimenting on their social system should not be construed as a ground for the western forces to try to encircle it, berate and topple it as they did to the Russians.
Let’s hope China will sooner or later find a compromise, such as, socialism plus capitalism plus Confucius-ism about its political system to allow more freedom for election, religion and basic human dignities, and then perhaps, there is no need for further confrontation.... Friends are for forever I thought.
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It is extraordinary to see the US trying to imply that Chinese military spending is somehow a danger to the world. Please answer the following multiple choice questions (all answers are either US or PRC).
Which country's military has bases all over the globe?
Which country spends far more on their military than any other country?
Which country's military has launched wars of aggression against two other soverign states and still has troops in their country?
Which country openly advocates regime change in other nation states?
As a Britain is neither able or willing to act as a counter to the US's global ambition I am glad at least one nation is willing to call them on it. Go China!
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I don't understand China's reaction. How can every foreign report, collection of statistics, etc. about China be an interference with its internal affairs?? The impact clearly affects everyone on the globe. Are Wen Jiabao's comments about US fiscal and monetary policy not interference with American internal affairs?
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James:
The verbal duelling between the two countries goes to the heart of a fundamental issue: how do two powers with global military ambitions co-exist? To answer the question, without knowledge; Just as a guess!!!...The two powers...Lived in a semi-beneficial relationship...
~Dennis Junior~
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OK, I got admit that I am Chinese, and I vote for my country, and I would like to see this one being selectively revomed by you guys.
to anyone who read it:
Isn't such horrific annoying thing to see and hear things this country did, who has the most powerful military forces, utterly shocked every one in the world to invade another country, brought death and distruction for finding the never founded WMD.
this country has the most advance financial products market, and advocate for freemarket, but brought us a economic recession and their goverment subsidies from Bank to Car Manufactures.
this country sent off its warship everycorner of the world,even their own warship crashed with their submarine, with national debt in trillions to support these military and spy activities.
and now this country said some one else broke the balance.
what amazing allegation, God Bless America.
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James:
In particular - following this month's confrontation between the US and China in the South China Sea - is there enough room for two military powers off the coast of China?
I have no real good answer, regarding the 2 military powers off the Coast of China....
~Dennis Junior~
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"how do two powers with global military ambitions co-exist?"
"Global military ambitions", James?
Quite a scoop! Have you Chinese documents or speeches to quote?
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Hi James, I think if you hold a neutral position as a report should be, you should give a bit more info about China’s response to the US’s report, especially when you are in China and reporting China issue.
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I find this last sentence to be kind of funny: "In particular - following this month's confrontation between the US and China in the South China Sea - is there enough room for two military powers off the coast of China?"
How about if we change "off the coast of China" into "off the coast of US"? Would anyone still think there is a reason for two whatever powers to "co-exist" there?
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China is just going to have to get use to the idea that other nations are going to do reports on the situation on them, it isn't interference it is just a report on the current status and where things stand.
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I really pray that the U.S. and China keep the peace! I love China and the Chinese people, and I think it would be just ludicrous for us (I'm American) to provoke anything. We need to reign in our military and, as an important byproduct, balance our budget!
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Your summerising can not be better. Mind your own bussiness that's exactly what the US need to do. Every country has qualification to talk about Chinese military except America who always pushes away the easy targets. I don't like war, don't believe in weapon, but I believe America will treat China like Iraq, Iran or Afghan ect. America shows us a hoodlum, who neglects principles and acts as if he were the boss of the world. It seems you have no prejudice on China on this issue(How surprising). You don't like this hoodlum, don't you?
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In my opinion, US' blame on China's military expense is just like a Chinese saying, "only allow the government officials to burn but not allow the common people to light." If US really wants a balance on the world's military power, just give out its weapons to those who have very little.
No doubt, US is the least qualified one to blame China on this issue.
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Since China was bullied by the West and Japan in the early 20th century, to prevent this humiliation happen again China should do what is necessary to defense itself regardless of the world objection. China after all is surrounded by the nuclear power India in the west, the arm to teeth Japan and S. Korea in the east and then Australia, the de facto US deputy sheriff in the south. Looking at this situation, it is imperative for China to have a strong defense. Furthermore, Taiwan and Daiyu island still have not been unified courtesy of the US cold war mentality. China needs a strong military power....
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
A quick look at the wikipaedia reveals that USA military bases spread all over the world in 5 continents in the forms army, air force, navy and marine corps. Can you single out a single oversea military bases from China?
In footballing term, China is, at best, at the lower half of the second division, all be it a fast improving one.
What are the motives behind USA's report? 1) To maintain the status quo where they remain superior. They want to hold on the power to do what they want, when they want, where they want, as if the world has not have enough troubles in the past 60 years or so. 2) To spread fear about China wherever and whenever they can. 'GOD bless America'. Only they can be trusted to run the world. 3) To creat opportunities to sell arm to its less developed allies, in order to maintain the status quo. Tough! Thank to advancement of science and technology, instant communication and analyses are available. Those dirty political tricks(Define your opponent, smear him from all directions in whatever means, then pretending to be an innocent guy) that are well practised in the USA will not wash.
Well, Cuba, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, how many more.....Sadly, due to the intoxication and addiction to power, they are still playing the same old game, instead of changing the mindset.
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