China naval buildup underway, report says
U.S. urged to build more ships to beef up navy’s presence in Asia-Pacific region
WASHINGTON — A congressional advisory panel sounded a warning Wednesday about China’s military buildup, predicting Beijing could possess the largest fleet of modern submarine and combatant ships in the western Pacific by 2020.
The U.S.- China Economic and Security Review Commission said China’s military modernization is altering the balance of power in the AsiaPacific region and challenging decades of U.S. pre-eminence.
The commission advises Congress on the national security implications of the relationship between the two world powers.
The group’s annual report also examined cyberintrusions from China, the trade and economic relationship with the U.S. and China’s global ties.
The primary recommendation is that Congress fund shipbuilding and increase the navy’s operational presence in the region in support of the Defence Department’s goal to base 60 per cent of its warships in the Asia-Pacific region by 2020, compared with about 50 per cent currently.
That’s a priority of the Obama administration’s diplomatic and military rebalance to Asia after a decade of war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The commission said it welcomes the policy, but added, “There is growing concern among U.S. allies and partners that the Department of Defense will be unable to follow through on its commitment to the rebalance due to declining defence budget and continuing security challenges elsewhere.”
The panel also recommended that the U.S. improve air and maritime capabilities of allies in the region.
Last year, the Chinese Foreign Ministry accused the commission of “indulging in Cold War mentality.” Beijing says it has no offensive intent.
The U.S. far outstrips China in military spending, but in Asia faces a greater burden in fielding forces far from its shores.
Rep. Howard McKeon, a Republican and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, voiced concern that at a time when the U.S. military faces budget cuts, China’s military spending is increasing and its leaders want to increase combat readiness.
“Its current pace of military modernization shows that Beijing is developing the ability to project power and influence further abroad,” McKeon told a committee hearing Wednesday examining the commission’s report.
Democratic Rep. Adam Smith said while the U.S. should carefully monitor military developments in China, an adversarial relationship between the two powers is not inevitable. “There is no reason that we should have China as an enemy. We should certainly look for ways to work together,” Smith said.
The report’s assessment of China’s naval capabilities draws on information from think-tanks and U.S. naval intelligence.