China focused on naval power: Pentagon

WASHINGTON: China's military is increasingly focused on naval power and has invested in advanced weaponry that will extend its reach in the Pacific and beyond, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

China has pushed to develop anti-ship missiles that could strike aircraft carriers, improved its targeting radar, expanded its fleet of attack submarines and bolstered its fleet of warships, the Defense Department wrote in an annual report to Congress.

"The evolution of China's economic and geostrategic interests has fundamentally altered Beijing's view of maritime power," the report said.

The military buildup includes a new aircraft carrier, but the Pentagon played down its importance, saying it was a first step towards a future fleet of carriers expected to be built in coming years.

The carrier "will serve initially as a training and evaluation platform, and eventually offer a limited operational capability," it said.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011