US worried over China’s military build- up in SCS

Washington, Feb. 10: Expressing concern over China’s military build- up, the head of US intelligence said Chinese construction activities at its outposts in the disputed South China Sea will continue to spark regional tension.

“China’s leaders are pursuing an active foreign policy while dealing with much slower economic growth. Chinese leaders have also embarked on the much ambitious military forms in China’s history,” James Clapper, director of National Intelligence said in his testimony before Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

“Regional tension will continue as China pursues construction at its expanded outposts in the South China Sea and because competing claimants might pursue actions that others perceive as infringing on their sovereignty,” he said.

The defence intelligence agency director Vincent Stewart agreed with Mr Clapper. “China is pursuing a long- term, comprehensive military modernisation program designed to improve its capability to fight shortduration, high- intensity regional conflicts,”

On Afghanistan, Mr Clapper said the war- torn country is at serious risk of a political breakdown in 2016 he said.

“While preparing for a Taiwan contingency remains the primary driver of the People’s Liberation Army ( PLA) modernisation, the Chinese military has increased its preparations for other contingencies, including conflicts in the East or South China Seas,” he added.

On Afghanistan, Mr Clapper said the wartorn country is at serious risk of a political breakdown in 2016. “Afghanistan is at serious risk of a political breakdown during 2016, occasioned by mounting political economic and security challenges,” Mr Clapper said.

“Waning political cohesion, increasingly assertive local power brokers, financial shortfalls and sustained countrywide Taliban attacks are eroding stability,” he said as several top American Senators expressed their concern over the current situation in Afghanistan. — PTI