China’s military, under fire over transparency, seeks to build trust with neighbors

In the article"China's military, under fire over transparency, seeks to build trust with neighbors" produced February, March 31st addresses the military tensions in the South China Sea are becoming increasingly tense as China's Military continues to grow and develop. For surrounding nations China's increased military presents in the area through development of new weapons such as the "carrier-killer" missile developments and China's plant to launch up to five aircraft carriers in the coming years have become a non-ignorable issue for the U.S. For other Asian nations such as Japan and Taiwan the increase encounters such as when "China’s State Oceanic Administration flew within 230 feet (70 meters) of a Japanese destroyer as it was patrolling near a disputed area," have cause anxiety and protest. Straining political relations between the neighboring countries, who have become leery of China's lack of transparency in regards to its intentions of its military build up.

China claims that these tactics are meant as "stronger assertions of sovereignty claims" and have proven a new challenge to Chinese diplomacy. In recognition of the need to increase transparency and increase communications, "the defense report included for the first time a separate section on military confidence building, highlighting defense consultations, joint training missions and exchanges between border units". Stating in the report that it "is pursuing such steps as “an effective way to maintain national security and development, and safeguard regional peace and stability.”

However, China's long standing disapproval of U.S.-Taiwan relations continues to be used as an effective measure to solidify the People's Liberation Army reluctance to increasing its contact with Washington. "Beijing cut off formal exchanges in anger over a $6.4 billion arms package offered to Taiwan last year, although the defense paper said the two sides are now “maintaining effective dialogues and communications after various ups and downs.” The result is a complex lack of transparency between what military reports are saying and what actions are actually occurring leaving the U.S. and other nations to ponder the true meaning behind China's new military strength.

Full article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chinas-military-under-fire-over-transparency-seeks-to-build-trust-with-neighbors/2011/03/30/AFh06C6B_story.html