One might be concerned that this buildup is putting the delicate military balance in the region at risk — especially, but not only, with respect to Taiwan,” Rumsfeld said in remarks prepared for a conference organized by The International Institute for Strategic Studies. “Since no nation threatens China, one wonders: Why this growing investment?”
The speech represented a direct verbal confrontation with China, given that Beijing sent representatives to the annual conference this year after skipping last year's event. Officials from Taiwan, a self-governing island China regards as a renegade territory, were not invited.
SINGAPORE — Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld bluntly challenged China today, saying Beijing must provide more political freedom to its citizens.
“Ultimately, China will need to embrace some form of open, representative government if it is to fully achieve the benefits to which its people aspire,” he said.
Rumsfeld also questioned China's recent military buildup.
He said the Pentagon's annual assessment of China's military capabilities showed China was spending more than its leaders acknowledge, expanding its missile capabilities and developing advanced military technology. China now has the world's third-largest military budget, he said, behind the United States and Russia.
“One might be concerned that this buildup is putting the delicate military balance in the region at risk — especially, but not only, with respect to Taiwan,” Rumsfeld said in remarks prepared for a conference organized by The International Institute for Strategic Studies. “Since no nation threatens China, one wonders: Why this growing investment?”
The speech represented a direct verbal confrontation with China, given that Beijing sent representatives to the annual conference this year after skipping last year's event. Officials from Taiwan, a self-governing island China regards as a renegade territory, were not invited.
China has said it would attack Taiwan if the island tries to declare independence, and it repeatedly calls on the United States to stop selling weapons to Taiwan. The United States is urging the European Union to keep in place its ban on selling weapons to China.
Rumsfeld prodded China to use its influence with North Korea to help restart six-nation talks over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programs.
