Pentagon report clouds facts, says analyst

There is nothing new in the Pentagon's annual report to the US Congress on China's military capabilities except that it attempts to overplay the so-called "China threat", an analyst said yesterday.

The US Defense Department report unveiled on Friday said that while Beijing had maintained its traditional focus on the Taiwan Straits, it also seemed to be looking at projecting its growing military strength beyond the island of Taiwan.

"Analysis of China's military acquisitions and strategic thinking suggests Beijing is also generating capabilities for other regional contingencies, such as conflict over resources or territory," the report said.