Friday, August 26, 2011

China Denounces Pentagon Report, Defends Military Modernization

China denounces Pentagon report, defends military modernization

Thu, Aug 25 2011

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Pentagon report that warned China's military modernization could destabilizes the region engaged in exaggeration and "groundless suspicion," the Chinese Ministry of Defense said on Friday in Beijing's first official response to the report.

"China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition," the ministry said in comments faxed to Reuters.

The ministry said the U.S. report, released earlier this week, "exaggerated the so-called mainland military threat to Taiwan," the self-ruled island that Beijing deems an illegitimate breakaway province.

"It is very normal for the Chinese military to develop and upgrade some weapons and armaments," said the Chinese defense ministry.

(Reporting by Chris Buckley; Editing by Ken Wills)

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