U.S.
Sounds Alarm At China's Military Buildup
The Pentagon voiced alarm over China's
military buildup, saying it was expanding its
advantage over Taiwan and investing heavily in
ballistic and cruise missile capabilities that
could one day pose a challenge to U.S.
dominance in the western Pacific. In its
annual report to Congress on Chinese military
capabilities, the Pentagon also cited China's
advances in electronic warfare. The U.S.
government has been the target of cyber
intrusions the report says appear to have
originated in China and aimed to steal
military secrets. "These intrusions
focused on exfiltrating information, some of
which could be of strategic or military
utility," the report said. Though their
two countries are increasingly interlinked
economically, ties between the U.S. military
and the People's Liberation Army of China have
deteriorated since January, when the Obama
administration notified Congress of a plan to
sell Taiwan up to $6.4 billion in arms.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has appealed to
the Chinese to re-engage to reduce the risk of
military miscommunications. But U.S. officials
say they have seen few signs of a thaw.