Cheney critical of China's military build-up

China’s recent anti-satellite weapons test and its continued military build-up are “not consistent” with its stated aim of a peaceful rise as a global power, US Vice President Dick Cheney said in Australia today.

In a speech in Sydney, Mr Cheney also expressed wariness about North Korea’s commitment to a landmark deal on ending its nuclear programmes.

As anti-war demonstrators clashed with police outside the hotel where Mr Cheney was speaking, the vice president also expressed gratitude to Australia for sending troops to the Iraq war, which he said must be won or terrorists would be emboldened worldwide.

Mr Cheney praised China for playing an “especially important” role in the negotiations that resulted in the North Korea deal, under which the North is to seal its main nuclear reactor and allow international inspections in exchange for fuel oil.

“Other actions by the Chinese government send a different message,” Cheney told the Australian-American Leadership Dialogue, a private organisation that promotes ties between the two countries.

“Last month’s anti-satellite test, China’s continued fast-paced military build-up are less constructive and are not consistent with China’s stated goal of a peaceful rise,” he said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Mr Cheney’s remarks. Many government offices were closed today for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday.

Beijing previously said its January 11 firing of a missile into a defunct weather satellite was for scientific purposes, but the test was widely criticised as a provocative demonstration of China’s growing military clout.

Washington said the test – which made China only the third nation after the United States and Russia to use weapons beyond the atmosphere – undermined efforts to keep weapons out of space. Beijing countered by saying the United States was blocking a possible global treaty that would ban weapons in space.

China’s military has grown rapidly along with its economy in recent years, prompting concern that the balance of military power in the Pacific could start to shift away from the United States.

China said in late December it was strengthening its military to thwart any attempt by Taiwan to push for independence, but vowed it was committed to the peaceful development of its 2.3 million-strong military, the world’s largest.