China plans to expand armed forces

The Government said it will also focus on strengthening its ability to police its borders and territorial waters, cracking down on terrorism and modernising its weapons.

“China will not engage in any arms race or pose a military threat,” the 91-page white paper said. “China is determined to remain a staunch force for global peace, security and stability.”

Its reported 2006 budget is 283.8 billion yuan (US$35.3 billion), but the Pentagon believes the true figure, which doesn’t include weapons purchases and other key items, is several times higher. In comparison, US President George W Bush has signed a bill authorising US$532.8 billion in defence spending for the 2007 fiscal year that began Oct 1.

One of Beijing’s key short-term goals has been to back up its threat to invade Taiwan if the self-ruled island makes its de facto independence permanent. The two sides split amid civil war in 1949 but the mainland claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has hundreds of missiles pointed in its direction across the Taiwan Strait.

“The struggle to oppose and contain separatist forces for Taiwan’s independence and their activities remains a hard one,” said the report from the State Council, China’s Cabinet.

It indirectly criticised the US for promising Beijing that it will adhere to the “one-China” policy, “but it continues to sell weapons to Taiwan, and has strengthened military ties with Taiwan.”

Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 but remains Taiwan’s major foreign backer, and is committed by law to providing it weapons to defend itself against possible Chinese attack.

China has announced double-digit military spending increases nearly every year since the early 1990s, causing unease among its neighbours.

“This increase... is compensatory in nature, and is designed to enhance the originally weak defence found-ation,” said the white paper, which is issued every two years. “It is a moderate increase in step with China’s economic development.”

—AUDRA ANG