China warns US to be careful after Obama's defence strategy rethink
[source]
China's ministry of defence has warned the United States to be "careful in its words and actions" after it announced a defence rethink that stressed responding to China's rise by shoring up alliances and bases across Asia.
The statement from the ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng was Beijing's fullest reaction so far to the new US strategy unveiled last week. It echoed the mixture of wariness and outward restraint that has marked China's response to the Obama administration's "pivot" to Asia since late last year.
"We have noted that the United States issued this guide to its defence strategy, and we will closely observe the impact that US military strategic adjustment has on the Asia-Pacific region and on global security developments," Geng said in a statement issued on the ministry's website.
"The accusations levelled at China by the US side in this document are totally baseless.
"We hope that the United States will flow with the tide of the era, and deal with China and the Chinese military in an objective and rational way, will be careful in its words and actions, and do more that is beneficial to the development of relations between the two countries and their militaries."
The new US strategy promises to boost strength in Asia in an attempt to counter China's growing ability to check US power in the region, even as US forces draw back elsewhere across the globe.
Under the new strategy the US will maintain large bases in Japan and South Korea and deploy marines, navy ships and aircraft to Australia's Northern Territory.
The strategy calls for countering potential attempts by China and Iran to block US capabilities in areas such as the South China Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
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