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China defense chief says military hardware drive no threat

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U.S. defense chief in China

Mon, Jan 10 2011
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and China's Minister of National Defense General Liang Guanglie shake hands after answering questions at a joint news conference at Bayi Building in Beijing January 10, 2011. REUTERS/Larry Downing

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and China's Minister of National Defense General Liang Guanglie shake hands after answering questions at a joint news conference at Bayi Building in Beijing January 10, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Larry Downing

(Reuters) - BEIJING | Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:22am EST

(Reuters) - BEIJING Jan 9 (Reuters) - China's military technology lags decades behind the world's most advanced armed forces and does not threaten any country, the Chinese defense minister said on Monday after talks with Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates's visit from Sunday to Wednesday comes a week before Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to Washington.

"The efforts that we place on the research and development of weapons systems are by no means targeted at any third country or any other countries in the world, and it will by no means threaten any other country in the world," Chinese Minister of Defense Liang Guanglie told reporters after talks with Gates.

U.S. officials have noted quick advances in China's anti-ship ballistic missile programme, which could challenge U.S. aircraft carriers. China may also be preparing to launch its first aircraft carrier in 2011, faster than some estimates, and new photos indicate it has a prototype of a stealth fighter jet.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Writing by Chris Buckley)
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Comments (5)
markjuliansmith wrote:
An anti-aircraft carrier missile is no threat? Do they think we just came from planet Bot and have not seen how China INC has acted since it took over determining the citizens of Chinas futures rather than letting them do it themselves? Have we not noticed China INC is insisting we play by their rules or we will be punished citizen, & State?

Threat it is clear whomever has submarines and aircraft left at the end of this conflict will be the winners – of what?

Jan 10, 2011 7:59am EST  --  Report as abuse
Spacetime wrote:
Well, if you feel the threat from China, then Chinese have felt that from US much earlier. China’s development of military force is mostly for defense purpose. Of course, those invaders & hedgemonists should feel the threat, like US.

Jan 10, 2011 9:26am EST  --  Report as abuse
troy_burning wrote:
“The efforts that we place on the research and development of weapons systems are by no means targeted at any third country…”

Any “third country”? So, the targeting is against the second country, or more plainly speaking – the United States.

Jan 10, 2011 10:32am EST  --  Report as abuse
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