Earlier today U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld gave the keynote address at an Asian security conference attended by defense ministers and military specialists from across Asia and the Pacific Rim.
From a Reuters report titled 'Rumsfeld says China needlessly projects power':
"China appears to be expanding its missile forces, allowing them to reach targets in many areas of the world, not just the Pacific region, while also expanding its missile capabilities within this region," [said Rumsfeld]...
..."China also is improving its ability to project power, and developing advanced systems of military technology," he said.
"Since no nation threatens China, one must wonder: Why this growing investment? Why these continuing large and expanding arms purchases? Why these continuing robust deployments?"
Rumsfeld's warnings are typical of what seems to be the Bush administration's China strategy: while George W. himself usually speaks softly, every week or so one of his senior officials reminds China that the U.S. carries some very big sticks.
Aside from today's warnings from Rumsfeld, here are some of the other messages of the last few weeks:
- May 24: Pentagon Prepares Report on China’s Growing Threat;
- May 26: U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow demands China revalue the yuan;
- June 2: U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez warns China about IPR infringements, and the same day, Gutierrez warns China against starting a trade war;
- June 3: Just before his arms buildup speech, Rumsfeld warns China on lack of democracy.
The image reproduced here was taken from post 9-11 hawk blog Little Green Footballs, which is a good place to understand what bellicose Americans are thinking. All the above warnings and demands nothwithstanding, China is hardly ever on the agenda at Little Green Footballs, where the commentary is mostly directed against Middle Eastern regimes.
UPDATE: The Horse's Mouth blog comments on Xinhua's interpretation of Rumsfeld's remarks: Lost in translation.
