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China military 'likely training for strikes' on US targets, says Pentagon

Beijing investing heavily in massive project to modernise armed forces, new report claims

Tom Barnes
Friday 17 August 2018 19:09 BST
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China conducts successful hypersonic aircraft test flight

China is expanding its long-range bomber operations and is “likely training for strikes” against the US and its allies, a new Pentagon report warns.

An annual report to congress by the defence department said China has upped its military spending to around $190bn (£150bn) a year amid a sweeping programme of modernisation.

Pentagon experts claim decades of increased investment in new technology by the country’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) meant it would soon have the capabilities to strike US military installations in the Pacific by air.

“The PLA may continue to extend its operations, demonstrating the capability to strike US and allied forces and military bases in the western Pacific Ocean, including Guam,” the report said.

“Such flights could potentially be used as a strategic signal to regional states, although the PLA has thus far has not been clear what messages such flights communicate beyond a demonstration of improved capabilities.”

The report comes at a time of heightened tension between China and the United States as a trade dispute continues.

The world’s two largest military powers plan to hold talks, offering hope they might resolve an escalating tariff conflict that threatens to degenerate into an all-out trade war.

Experts noted Chinese military operations this year to land bombers on island and reefs in a disputed region of the South China Sea.

Concerns were also raised that China was using “persuasion and coercion” in Taiwan to prevent the development of “political attitudes favouring independence”.

It added the PLA was “likely preparing a contingency to unify Taiwan with China by force, while simultaneously deterring, delaying, or denying any third-party intervention on Taiwan’s behalf”.

China has long held a territorial claim over Taiwan and refuses to engage diplomatically with any country that recognises the island nation as sovereign.

Taiwan is largely self-governing, but much of its political discourse surrounds the issue of whether to move towards total Chinese unification or Taiwanese independence.

China’s defence ministry has criticised Washington for adopting a new national defence bill authorising $716bn (£563bn) in new military spending.

The bill contains plans to both strengthen Taiwan’s self-defence capabilities and conduct a report on Beijing’s operations in the South China Sea.

PLA senior colonel Wu Qian, a spokesman for the ministry, said on Tuesday the act interfered with China’s internal affairs, accusing the US of displaying a Cold War mentality.

“We resolutely oppose any country having any forms of formal and military exchanges with Taiwan, this stance has been consistent and clear,” he added.

“We will not allow anyone to split Taiwan from China in any way or at any time.”

“We urge the US to stick to its promises to China regarding Taiwan question, and uphold the One China policy and the joint communiques made by both nations.”

Additional reporting by Reuters

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