China's growth, however rapid or stunning, has been reflected in its military growth as well. Its GDP expansion has allowed it to increase its military spending and China feels a need to response to US criticism lead by Vice-president Dick Cheney, about it expanding its military budget and its significant technological advances. "China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace. It safeguards its own lawful rights and interests, and also respects the lawful rights and interests of other countries," Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Tuesday February 27th. this year China is increasing its military budget by 17.8 percent to 45 billion (350.9 billion yuan). Cheney has been commenting that China's anti-satellite test and its increased military spending it out of step with becoming a peaceful world power. The US does not want to see China flex its military muscle. Already with North Korea going nuclear, Japan wanting to change its constitution to allow for military deployment and India building aircraft carriers, the US is trying to put the lid back on the genie bottle of pre-emprive strike, and what is being seen as a new internal law, the resolution of conflict through force. The way the US has approached its security interest is being reflected in the foreign policies of other nations allied or non-allied. Cheney criticizing China had not commented on Australia's military build-up after. The US launch a charm offensive to placate Russia after it announced its planned expansion of the missile defense system into Poland and Czech Republic. This is after the US has been taking Russia for granted since the Bush administration took power, content in thinking the cold war was over and could never be revived. India, exempt from US criticism has also increased its military spending by 7.8 percent to 21.3 billion. This is upgrade and replace its 1990's weapons with new Russian made air superiority fighters both land and carrier based.
To underline the seriousness of US criticism, the US military orchestrated a show of strength in Hong Kong. Three air craft carrier strike groups participated in the exercise USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Rear Admiral Charles Martoglio who thanked the Chinese government for letter the USS Ronald Reagan stop in Hong Kong said "We do recognize that other nations and other governments have a legitimate right to build defensive forces and that is a decision best left to the government here.", he followed by saying that the "US Navy does maintain its forward presence in order to interact with friends, neighbors, allies and regional partners around the world and we intend to continue in that spirit of cooperation."
