The strength of China's armed forces is 20 years behind the US and although the military is developing new capabilities, it is not a threat to peace in Asia, the Chinese defence minister said Sundayn. China's military won't be used aggressively against its neighbours, General Liang Guanglie said at an Asian security conference in Singapore.
"I know many people tend to believe that with the growth of China's economy, China will become a military threat," Liang said. "China will never seek hegemony or military expansion." Liang met Friday with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates in Singapore amid increasing high-level contacts between the militaries of the two countries. Gates told Liang that he believes the military-to-military relationship is "on a positive trajectory" after a series of setbacks in recent years.
Liang is the highest-ranking Chinese military official to attend the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, now in its 10th year. General Chen Bingde, China's chief of general staff, met with top US military officials last month in Washington.