And a «growing space program» to boot…
A new Pentagon report has sounded the alarm over China’s expanding military reach and says the rival to American power is increasing its ability to send bombers further afield while «likely training for strikes» against the United States and its allies.
The warning is contained in an annual Pentagon report prepared for Congress called Military and Security Developments Involving The People’s Republic of China 2018, which further notes a defense spending estimate of $190 billion — a third that of the United States — which has in part gone toward the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) «undergoing the most comprehensive restructure in its history» .
The report comes amidst heightened trade tensions and concerns that China is attempting to gobble up territory in international waters through its militarizing artificial islands in the South China Sea .
“Over the last three years, the PLA has rapidly expanded its overwater bomber operating areas, gaining experience in critical maritime regions and likely training for strikes against U. S. and allied targets,” the report reads.
In terms of potential targeting, this may demonstrate the «capability to strike US and allied forces and military bases in the western Pacific Ocean, including Guam,» the report adds.
However while generally outlining ways that China is establishing itself as an unrivaled regional power, such as through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the report notes that it’s not clear what message Beijing is projecting by carrying out the flights “beyond a demonstration of improved capabilities.”
The report projects that China’s military budget is likely to expand to $240 billion over the next decade, adding that «The purpose of these reforms is to create a more mobile, modular, lethal ground force capable of being the core of joint operations» that can «fight and win» against a major military power.
