But what China is adding to its arsenal is far from what's necessary to challenge the United States in the Asia-Pacific. For those who had followed this chain of events, the increased budget came as no surprise. The question now is where the PRC will spend the money. Most of the spending, according to Shen and others, is intended to enhance the country's ability to intimidate Taiwan. But if the concern is that they will make the U.S. more cautious in their operations in the Asia-Pacific region, that's more realistic.
Pacific nation can make serious decisions without taking China into account.
Qian said he would also discuss with US officials China's opposition to the proposed development of a missile defense system. Qian's five-day visit to Washington and New York will begin March 18. He is scheduled to see Bush on March 22, and is likely to ask him if he will visit China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to be held in Shanghai in October. However, there was no sign that renewed debate sparked by the publication abroad of documents that purport to show a leadership divided by the protests spilled over to political circles. Diplomats and scholars predict that, lacking a strong leader or public mandate, the new leaders will focus on maintaining the party's grip on power, unwilling to risk any meaningful reform.