China blames Asian arms build-up on US

Rowan Callick

THE US has ``coerced'' Southeast Asian nations into blowing China's military build-up out of proportion, says China's state-run news agency.

Reporting yesterday on the growing military response in the South China Sea, Xinhua said US interference was ``a dangerous move. Asian countries are fully capable of solving disputes on their own. Any meddling by foreign powers would further complicate the issue and sow the seeds of distrust among the Asian peoples.''

Such distrust, from whichever source, appears to be driving Asian decisions to buy expensive new military hardware.

It was revealed on Sunday that Japan is planning to increase its submarine fleet for the first time in 36 years, adding two to its present 18 vessels.

Sankei Shimbun newspaper said this was because of China's plan to build an ocean-going fleet, extending its operations to the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

And Vietnam has made a costly deal with Russia to buy six new Kilo-class submarines, and has invited US warships to be repaired in its ports.

China has 62 submarines, seven nuclear-powered and 55 diesel-powered.

Most operate out of a new underwater base on Hainan island, which faces the South China Sea.

China's rivals in claiming the South China Sea's Spratly and Paracel archipelagos, potentially rich in oil and gas and highly strategic, include Vietnam, Malaysia, The Philippines and Brunei.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Hanoi last weekend the US opposed ``the use or threat of force by any claimant''.

The nationalist Chinese publication Global Times yesterday commended China's proposal to ``shelve disagreements and jointly develop'' the economic opportunities in the disputed waters.

``However,'' it admitted, ``the idea was not perfectly conveyed. Many are worried that China . . . intends to solve the conflict with growing power.'' It said the Chinese public was sceptical about the notion of ``joint development'' in the region viewing it as a violation of sovereignty.