Pentagon questions growing Chinese military power

WASHINGTON – China is increasing its military power more rapidly and developing new "disruptive technologies" that are shifting the military balance in its region and possibly beyond, a new Pentagon report said.

And Beijing continues to develop weapons that threaten Taiwan, even though tensions between the two have been reduced significantly, according to the report released Wednesday.

The latest in a series of annual assessments for Congress of China's military power, the report says the U.S. "welcomes the rise of a stable, peaceful and prosperous China and encourages China to participate responsibly" in world affairs.

"However, much uncertainty surrounds China's future course, particularly regarding how its expanding military power might be used," the 66-page report said.

The report comes in the wake of heightened tensions between the U.S. and China this month, after Chinese vessels harassed the Navy surveillance ship USNS Impeccable in international waters in the South China Sea. The incident came just a week after China and the U.S. resumed military-to-military talks following a five-month suspension over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

During meetings with China officials after the incident, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said both sides have agreed on the need to reduce tensions and avoid a repeat of the confrontation.

"There is reason for optimism; despite the Impeccable incident, talks have progressed better than (Defense Secretary Robert Gates) expected," Defense Department press secretary Geoff Morrell told a Pentagon news conference.

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