Gates: China Is Not Strategic Threat

**Ironduke** · 03-08-2007, 18:03 PM

Just recently Cheney was on the record calling for more transparency in China's military spending. Now Gates is saying that China is not a strategic threat. Thoughts?

Quote:

US Defense Secretary Says China Is Not Strategic Threat

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
08 March 2007

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday he does not consider China a strategic threat, in spite of the country's sharply rising defense spending and capability. Still, the top U.S. military officer says the United States must be prepared to respond to any threat that develops. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

Secretary Gates told a news conference China's rising military spending does not by itself represent a threat, unless it is accompanied by an intention to confront the United States.

"I do not see China, at this point, as a strategic adversary of the United States," said Robert Gates. "It's a partner in some respects. It's a competitor in other respects. And so we are simply watching to see what they're doing."

Secretary Gates repeated U.S. calls for more transparency in China's defense budget, which he said is likely larger than the official figure. China has announced an 18 percent increase in its official defense spending, the largest in a series of large annual increases.

At the same news conference, the top U.S. military officer, General Peter Pace, said even though it is not clear what China intends to do with its growing military capability, the United States needs to be ready.

"When you see the global capacity growing in any area, we need to make sure that the United States' military is capable of handling any threat that might develop, without regard to current intent, which is why, in the budget, when you look at it, there is not only the money for continuing the global war on terror, but also ensuring that we have the air force we need, the navy we need, and all the things we need for conventional battles," said said General Pace.

General Pace said it is important that any potential U.S. adversary not think the United States is too busy with the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to respond to any other threat. He said the U.S. military is committed to maintaining the ability to, in his words, "over match" the capability of any potential adversary.

Earlier Wednesday, the top U.S. commander in the Pacific, Admiral William Fallon, told a congressional committee some of China's military buildup is aimed at countering U.S. capabilities. He said China's military has apparently been told to develop the ability to take Taiwan by force, if necessary, and to deal with any U.S. military help that would be provided to the island.

He said China's recent test of an anti-satellite weapon is "clearly" aimed at countering U.S. military systems, which rely heavily on satellites for surveillance and communications. But other U.S. officials have said the U.S. military has plenty of back-up systems, and more are being developed, some of which do not rely on satellites.

Source: Voice of America

gunnut · 03-08-2007, 19:37 PM

China Is Not Strategic Threat

Tactical, yes. Strategic, not yet. It's all in the wording when it comes to political speech.

Zeng · 03-08-2007, 23:56 PM

^^^
Mr. Gates is correct.

China Is Not Strategic Threat.
China Is Not Tactical Threat either.

China is happy with the world order created by America and is benefiting from it.

China accepts America to be the world's sole superpower.
China accepts America to be the world's sole first class (world) nation.

It was China that invented the definition of first, second and third class (world) nations.

From the comments of this forum, you can see:

1. Russian (Putin) has problem with America's sole superpower position

2. India doesn't want to be a second class nation. It wants to be a first class nation

3. China accepts its third class (world) nation positon

**astralis** · 03-09-2007, 00:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeng_xinren

^^^
Mr. Gates is correct.

China Is Not Strategic Threat.
China Is Not Tactical Threat either.

China is happy with the world order created by America and is benefiting from it.

China accepts America to be the world's sole superpower.
China accepts America to be the world's sole first class (world) nation.

It was China that invented the definition of first, second and third class (world) nations.

From the comments of this forum, you can see:

1. Russian (Putin) has problem with America's sole superpower position

2. India doesn't want to be a second class nation. It wants to be a first class nation

3. China accepts its third class (world) nation positon

zeng,

#3 is untrue.

badguy2000 · 03-09-2007, 03:18 AM

china always declare that china is a third world country.

badguy2000 · 03-09-2007, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astralis

zeng,

#3 is untrue.

well ,
it is foreigners,especial west media that say china is going to be another superpower.
However,China always declares it is a third wolrd country.

xrough · 03-12-2007, 21:46 PM

China had tremendous development in recent years and we can't deny that with almost 10% increase in GDP annually that is already a sign that China would be one of the newly-industrialized nation..Yes, China always declares that they are still belong in a third world countries that heavily upgrading their military..

**astralis** · 03-13-2007, 00:50 AM

badguy,

china declares it is a third world country. however, they don't want to remain there, and doesn't accept it. it aims to be no less than a major power- at least in east asia.

and it is doing all the right moves to get them there, too.

this isn't saying that it is "bad" or "good", this is just the way nations work...

03-08-2007, 19:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
gunnut *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 01-27-06 Location: DPRK, Democratik People's Republik of Kalifornia Posts: 9,376 Country:	China Is Not Strategic Threat Tactical, yes. Strategic, not yet. It's all in the wording when it comes to political speech. __________________ "Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.

03-08-2007, 23:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Zeng Contributor Join Date: 01-16-07 Posts: 586 Country:	^^^ Mr. Gates is correct. China Is Not Strategic Threat. China Is Not Tactical Threat either. China is happy with the world order created by America and is benefiting from it. China accepts America to be the world's sole superpower. China accepts America to be the world's sole first class (world) nation. It was China that invented the definition of first, second and third class (world) nations. From the comments of this forum, you can see: 1. Russian (Putin) has problem with America's sole superpower position 2. India doesn't want to be a second class nation. It wants to be a first class nation 3. China accepts its third class (world) nation positon __________________ I am here for exchanging opinions. Last edited by Zeng : 03-08-2007 at 23:59 PM.

03-12-2007, 21:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
xrough Contributor Join Date: 01-08-07 Location: Manila Posts: 746 Country:	China had tremendous development in recent years and we can't deny that with almost 10% increase in GDP annually that is already a sign that China would be one of the newly-industrialized nation..Yes, China always declares that they are still belong in a third world countries that heavily upgrading their military.. __________________

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03-09-2007, 03:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
badguy2000 Banished Join Date: 03-14-06 Posts: 97	china always declare that china is a third world country.

03-13-2007, 00:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
astralis *Foreign Service* Moderator Lei Feng Protege Join Date: 08-23-05 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 2,946 Country:	badguy, china declares it is a third world country. however, they don't want to remain there, and doesn't accept it. it aims to be no less than a major power- at least in east asia. and it is doing all the right moves to get them there, too. this isn't saying that it is "bad" or "good", this is just the way nations work...

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