What's New
The 2024 edition of the Pentagon's China Military Power Report, released Wednesday, has drawn fire from the Chinese embassy, with spokesperson Liu Pengyu criticizing the 166-page report's "Cold War" and "zero-sum" thinking.
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Defense via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Since 2000, Congress has required the Department of Defense to submit an annual report—classified and unclassified—on the development of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA). The latest document was released amid flaring tensions between the two powers over a range of issues and just weeks before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to raise tariffs on Chinese goods.
The United States views China, which Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin previously called the country's "pacing challenge," as the only nation capable of competing with it in the military, economic, technological and geopolitical domains.
What To Know
A major focus of the report is China's expanding nuclear arsenal. The Pentagon estimates that China had over 600 operational warheads earlier this year—about 100 more than in 2023—and is projected to surpass 1,000 by 2030.
The report also highlighted China's increasing pressure on Taiwan, the neighboring island democracy that Beijing claims as its territory. U.S. intelligence and defense officials believe President Xi Jinping has directed the PLA to be capable of moving against Taiwan by 2027.
"Throughout 2023, Beijing continued to erode longstanding norms in and around Taiwan by employing a range of pressure tactics against Taiwan: maintaining a naval presence around Taiwan, increasing crossings into Taiwan's self-declared centerline and air defense identification zone, and conducting highly publicized major military exercises near Taiwan," the report said.
The report examined China's ties with Russia, describing their relationship as a "no-limits partnership." The document said that Beijing has echoed Kremlin narratives blaming the U.S. and NATO for Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine; bolstered Russia's economy with oil and natural gas purchases and record-high trade; and exported electronics, machine tools, and other dual-use goods that fuel Moscow's war machine.
What People Are Saying
"China has always firmly adhered to a nuclear strategy of self-defense, following a policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons and maintaining its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security," Liu Pengyu said. He noted that China is the only nuclear power to have made this commitment.
Liu added that China's nuclear weapons pose no threat unless another country uses or threatens to use nuclear weapons against China. He also pointed to China's participation in multilateral arms control initiatives.
On Taiwan, Liu called the report a "blatant violation of China's internal affairs." He added: "The one-China principle is unwavering, the trend toward reunification is unstoppable, and 'Taiwan independence' is a dead end."
Beijing requires countries with diplomatic ties to China to adhere to the one-China principle, which asserts Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. The U.S. has long acknowledged China's position without endorsing it while maintaining unofficial diplomatic relations with Taiwan and providing the island with arms.
Regarding support for Russia, Liu said: "China has always taken a cautious and responsible attitude in military exports and strictly controlled the export of dual-use items." He insisted that China's relationship with Russia is "aboveboard, in line with World Trade Organization rules and market principles and not targeted at any third party."
Liu accused the U.S. of hypocrisy for sanctioning Chinese companies over alleged support for Russia's military efforts.
What Happens Next
"We hope the U.S. will objectively and rationally assess China's strategic intentions and defense construction, cease issuing irresponsible reports year after year, and take concrete actions to maintain the stable development of China-U.S. relations and military ties," Liu said.
His comments follow Xi's meeting with President Joe Biden last month in Lima, Peru. During the meeting, Xi laid down clear red lines, widely interpreted as a message for the incoming administration of President-elect Trump.
Xi urged the U.S. to "unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence" and to steer clear of human rights issues and China's territorial disputes in the South China Sea, such as those with U.S. defense treaty ally Philippines.
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