While the US criticizes China's military development at every opportunity, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld claims that the military progress of Beijing destroyed the sensitive balance in Asia.
Rumsfeld, who made a speech at the meeting of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore, determined by harshly criticizing China that they have to watch their military structuring.
US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld claims that the military progress of Beijing destroyed the sensitive balance in Asia.
Rumsfeld, who made a speech at the meeting of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore, determined by harshly criticizing China that they have to watch their military structuring. Rumsfeld said missiles produced by Beijing had the ability not only to attack the Pacific but also the entire world. Expressing that China was the third country providing the highest budget for military expenditures after Russia, the US Secretary of Defense claimed that besides Taiwan, China's improving its military technology influenced the entire region. "While none of the countries threatened China, one may wonder why its military investments increase?" asked Rumsfeld and added that Beijing should provide more political freedom for the Chinese public. Determining Chinese economic growth was inevitable, Rumsfeld also advocated that China should provide transparency for its political system at the same time. Rumsfeld uttered that the news about the US demand to destroy China's balance were erroneous and added that such a thing would not be good for either the Chinese public or the region. The US Defense Secretary also responded to a question from an official from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on whether US feels threatened by China: "I do not feel threatened by China's existence. Furthermore, I either do not know a country threatening China."
The Taiwan administration, on the other side, allowed its Taichung governor to participate in the meeting of the world's local administration that will be held in China. Reportedly, Taichung governor's application to attend the World's Local Administrations and Governors' Forum that will be held in Beijing between June 8-10 was approved because its an international conference. There has been almost no official relations between the two countries since their separation in 1949
