China says U.S. defense policy stance misjudges Beijing intent

[ellisonz]

Reuters – 1 hr 13 mins ago

BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States' expanded military presence in Asia is based on a miscalculation of Beijing's intent to modernize its military defenses, China said Monday, taking a tempered stance in its first official response to Washington's plan.

The United States unveiled a defense strategy last week to boost capacity in Asia, an attempt to counter China's growing ability to check U.S. power in the region, that comes with a pledged reduction in the overall size of U.S. forces.

"The accusation targeting China in the document has no basis, and is fundamentally unrealistic," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a regular news conference, in response to a question from state media about whether China poses a threat to U.S. security.

"China adheres to the path of peaceful development, an independent and peaceful foreign policy and a defensive national defense policy," Liu added.

http://news.yahoo.com/china-says-u-defense-policy-stance-misjudges-beijing-095749853.html

*cough* *cough* *cough*

[FreakinDJ]

1. Philippines Protests New China ‘Intrusion’ in Disputed Water

Jan. 9 (Bloomberg) -- The Philippines protested a new “intrusion” by China in waters it claims to be Philippine territory, a move that threatens to revive tensions over areas of the South China Sea that may contain energy reserves.

Two Chinese vessels and a military ship were spotted on Dec. 11 and 12 “at the vicinity” of Escoda Shoal, which is within Philippine territory, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. The department on Jan. 5 “conveyed to the Chinese Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires its serious concerns over recent actions” in the South China Sea, it said in the statement.

Oil reserves in the South China Sea, which contains two disputed island chains, may total as much as 213 billion barrels, according to Chinese studies cited in 2008 by the U.S. Energy Information Agency. The Philippines and Vietnam have pushed China to redraw its maritime boundaries according to the United Nations Law of the Sea, a move that would cost it large swathes of its claims in the waters.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-09/philippines-protests-new-china-intrusion-in-disputed-water.html