NewsMax.com Wires
March 1, 2007


China's Foreign Ministry likened U.S. doubts about
Chinese defense spending on Thursday to a peeping tom poking through
Beijing's underwear, describing the Asian giant as a benign neighbor
and force for peace.

Vice President Dick Cheney raised concerns about China's military
build-up last week when touring Asia.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang quickly rejected
Cheney's criticism, but at Thursday's regular news briefing he added
a new twist to the rhetoric.

"If someone always tears through your clothes and even wants to lift
open your underwear, saying 'Let me see what's inside', how would
you feel? Would you want to call the police?" Qin told reporters
when asked about Cheney's remarks.

China's defense spending has risen steadily in recent years and,
when parliament convenes next week, it is expected to approve
another rise in the military budget.

Last year, the National People's Congress announced a 14.7 percent
rise in the defense budget over the previous year, to 284 billion
yuan ($36.6 billion). Foreign analysts say China's true defense
expenditure may be up to three times that, and Washington has urged
Beijing to be more forthright about its military budget and intentions.

"China maintains a reasonable national defense strength to protect
our sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national
unity," Qin said. "Not for expansion, and certainly not for wars of
aggression abroad."