A U.S. Navy admiral expressed new concern Friday over China"s military buildup and urged Beijing to be clearer about its intentions, AP reported. With China"s military growing at an «unprecedented rate,» the U.S. wants to ensure that expansion doesn"t destabilize the region, Rear Adm. Kevin Donegan told reporters on a visit to the Chinese territory of Hong Kong. Donegan referred to China"s expanded weaponry. His remarks echoed the concerns of other U.S. military leaders who have said the growth in China"s military spending _ up almost 15 percent in the 2009 budget _ raises questions about how Beijing plans on deploying its new power. «When we see a military growing at that rate, we"re interested in transparency and the understanding of the uses of that military,» said Donegan, commander of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier strike group, a key part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Donegan"s comments come as a top Chinese general visits the United States on a mission to strengthen trust between the two militaries and dispel U.S. concerns about the growth of the People"s Liberation Army. -- SPA
