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Rumsfeld chides China

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld yesterday accused China of understating the scope of its defense spending, and said this is sowing suspicion about how China intends to use its growing military might.

Rumsfeld arrived in the Chinese capital for his first visit since he became US President George W. Bush's defense chief in 2001. He was scheduled to meet today with President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), who also is chairman of the Central Military Commission, which runs the Chinese military.

In an interview on his plane en route from Washington, Rumsfeld questioned China's motives in underreporting its defense spending. He mentioned no figures, but the Pentagon said last summer that China may be spending US$90 billion on defense this year -- three times the announced total.

"I think it's interesting that other countries wonder why they would be increasing their defense effort at the pace they are and yet not acknowledging it," Rumsfeld said. "That is as interesting as the fact that it's increasing at the pace it is."

Rumsfeld said the US government welcomes China's emergence as an economic power, but he said that development has created "somewhat of a tension" for its communist leaders as they attempt to cope with new influences and ideas that enter the country along with foreign investment.

"China is an important country in the region; it's a country that's increasingly important in the world," he said.

Rumsfeld was also scheduled to meet today with the Chinese minister of defense, General Cao Gangchuan (曹剛川), and to speak at the Central Party School, the Communist Party's top training center for mid-career members and its main ideological think tank.

Among the other topics expected to arise during Rumsfeld's visit: tensions over Taiwan, and US encouragement for China to use its influence with North Korea in six-party negotiations to end North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Just before Rumsfeld's arrival, China yesterday again warned the US against selling arms to Taiwan.

"We're strongly opposed to the United States having any form of military exchange or cooperation with Taiwan, including providing arms to Taiwan," foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan (孔泉) told a regular briefing.
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