CHINA / Wen in Australia
Premier: China military is transparent, no threat
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-04-03 15:00
China's military is transparent and not a threat, Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao said on Monday after the United States and Japan criticised the
Asia giant for not being open enough about a build-up of its defence
forces.
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 defence
capabilities and safeguarding national reunification," Wen told a lunch
meeting in Canberra.
"Thus China will not pose a threat to anyone. China's defence policy is
transparent," he said. US 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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