Beijing: Chinese President
Hu Jintao on Tuesday urged the Navy to prepare for military combat,
amid growing regional tensions over maritime disputes and a US campaign
to assert itself as a Pacific power.



The Navy should "accelerate its transformation and modernisation in a
sturdy way, and make extended preparations for military combat in order
to make greater contributions to safeguard national security," he said.



Addressing the powerful Central Military Commission, Hu said: "Our work
must closely encircle the main theme of national defence and military
building."



His comments, which were posted in a statement on a government website,
come as the United States and Beijing's neighbours have expressed
concerns over its naval ambitions, particularly in the South China Sea.



Several Asian nations have competing claims over parts of the South
China Sea, believed to encompass huge oil and gas reserves, while China
claims it all. One-third of global seaborne trade passes through the
region.



Vietnam and the Philippines have accused Chinese forces of increasing aggression there.



In a translation of Hu's comments, the country’s official news agency
quoted the President as saying China's Navy should "make extended
preparations for warfare."



The Pentagon however downplayed Hu's speech, saying that Beijing had the
right to develop its military, although it should do so transparently.



"They have a right to develop military capabilities and to plan, just as
we do," said Pentagon spokesman George Little, but he added, "We have
repeatedly called for transparency from the Chinese and that's part of
the relationship we're continuing to build with the Chinese military."



"Nobody's looking for a scrap here," insisted another spokesman, Admiral
John Kirby. "Certainly we wouldn't begrudge any other nation the
opportunity, the right to develop naval forces to be ready.



"Our naval forces are ready and they'll stay ready."



State Department spokesman Mark Toner said: "We want to see stronger
military-to-military ties with China and we want to see greater
transparency. That helps answer questions we might have about Chinese
intentions."




















Hu's announcement comes in the wake of trips to Asia by several senior
US officials, including President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Leon
Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.



US undersecretary of defence Michelle Flournoy is due to meet in Beijing
with her Chinese counterparts on Wednesday for military-to-military
talks.



Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao last month warned against interference by
"external forces" in regional territorial disputes including those in
the South China Sea.



And China said late last month it would conduct naval exercises in the
Pacific Ocean, after Obama, who has dubbed himself America's first
Pacific president, said the US would deploy up to 2,500 Marines to
Australia.



China's People's Liberation Army, the largest military in the world, is
primarily a land force, but its navy is playing an increasingly
important role as Beijing grows more assertive about its territorial
claims.



Earlier this year, the Pentagon warned that Beijing was increasingly
focused on its naval power and had invested in high-tech weaponry that
would extend its reach in the Pacific and beyond.



China's first aircraft carrier began its second sea trial last week
after undergoing refurbishments and testing, the government said.










The 300-metre (990-foot) ship, a refitted former Soviet carrier,
underwent five days of trials in August that sparked international
concern about China's widening naval reach.



Beijing only confirmed this year that it was revamping the old Soviet
ship and has repeatedly insisted that the carrier poses no threat to its
neighbours and will be used mainly for training and research purposes.



But the August sea trials were met with concern from regional powers
including Japan and the United States, which called on Beijing to
explain why it needs an aircraft carrier.



China, which publicly announced around 50 separate naval exercises in
the seas off its coast over the past two years -- usually after the
event -- says its military is only focused on defending the country's
territory.