Reuters
Beijing, August 1: China’s military warned Saturday on its founding anniversary of growing risks along its borders, including in the disputed waters of the South and East China Seas. The Chinese military, the world’s largest, has embarked upon an ambitious modernisation programme in recent years.
That, along with rising defence spending, has jangled nerves around the region. China says it is a threat to nobody, but needs to update outdated equipment and has to be able to defend what is now the world’s second largest economy.
The official People’s Liberation Army Daily said the world was facing unprecedented changes. “The situation surrounding our country is generally stable, but the risks and challenges are extremely severe, and the possibility of chaos and war on our doorstep has increased,” it said. “The maritime security environment is more complicated, and the undercurrents in the East and South China Seas have been gushing up,” the paper wrote.
