China defends military rise, says faces threats

BEIJING, Dec 29 (Reuters): China's military modernisation will focus on strengthening its navy and air force as it faces security threats from border spats, historical disputes and self-ruled Taiwan, a defence white paper released today said.

But China, whose increasing defence spending and military build-up has been a source of friction with the United States, will never engage in an arms race or threaten any other nation, the policy paper said.

"The navy will gradually ...

raise its marine combat and nuclear counter-attack capabilities," it said.

"The air force aims at speeding up its transition from territorial air defence to both offensive and defensive operations, and increasing its capabilities in the areas of air strike, air and missile defence, early warning and reconnaissance and strategic projection." President Hu Jintao this week urged the building of a powerful Chinese navy that was prepared "at any time" for military struggle.

The report also defended China's rising military spending, pointing out that it spends less per capita than the United States, Britain, France or Russia.

"On the basis of its continuing economic development, China promotes the modernisation of its defences and military, which is necessary in adapting to the new military trends in the world and safeguarding national security and development," it said.

"China will not engage in an arms race with any other country and does not pose a military threat to any other nation." Describing China's general security situation as good, the 83-page document nonetheless wasted little time in denouncing Taiwan independence moves, saying the island over which Beijing claims sovereignty was a serious threat to regional stability.

In the same breath, it said that China was facing threats not only from Taiwan but from other, unnamed neighbours.

"The issues of border complexities and sensitive historical problems still have an effect on China's security environment," the report said.

China has in the past fought brief border wars with India, Vietnam and the former Soviet Union, and continues to dispute the ownership of islets in the South China Sea with Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.

China also remains wary of Japan, which occupied parts of the country between 1931 and 1945 and which called on Beijing earlier this year to be more open about its military.