China’s military buildup a concern, not a threat: Rice

[Judi Lynn]

China’s military buildup a concern, not a threat: Rice
(AFP)

10 July 2005

BEIJING - The United States is concerned about China’s “significant” military buildup, but that does not mean it sees Beijing as a threat, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday.

“There is no doubt that we have concerns about the size and pace of the Chinese military buildup and it’s not just the Pentagon. I’ve made clear to people this is a view held by the US government,” Rice told reporters.

“This does not mean that we view China as “a threat’,” she said after meeting with Chinese officials on the first leg of a four-nation Asia tour.

“We just take note of the fact that there is a significant military buildup going on, ... that we have concerns about the military balance and of course that the United States continues to modernize its own forces so that we can continue to be a force for stability and peace in this region.”
(snip/...)

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2005/July/theworld_July285.xml§ion=theworld&col=

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But Rumsfeld and Rice have been howling, at _Bush's behest, about the terrifying purchase of the deadly 100,000 rifles for Venezuela's military. You'd think all hell is about to break loose because Venezuela got some new rifles to replace the 50 year old ones they had.

Where is the balance here?

[No Michael Savage]

1. Not a threat!?

I need some of that stuff the Bush administration is smoking, it's really powerful.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. We can screw with Venezuela..... China is another story..... and

it's more if a threat that China wants to legitimately bid on Unocal... you know... the free trade thingy we are so proud of touting... but apparrently China is not allowed to bid on Unocal... imagine that.

[No Michael Savage]

4. Free trade?

Look at those trade deficits. Seems like expensive trade to me.

[lebkuchen]

3. Interesting she would say that about China

yet she spoke of mushroom clouds in Iraq, stating unequivocally that there were WMD there.

Rice is the psycho b!tch from hell. She is completely without soul.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. Methinks she likes the camera and will do and say anything for

der fuhrer's agenda.

[Benbow]

5. Like she'd know - I think not

[Oversea Visitor]

7. Haha

China is too big to bully, so ahhhh.... they are friend.