The respected International Institute for Strategic Studies said that despite the effects of the global financial crisis, the 7.5 percent growth in the Chinese defence budget in 2010 was greater than most countries.

Such growth "continued to provoke concern", the London-based group said in its "Military Balance 2011" study.

However, it said China's primary focus was regional, pointing to the status of Taiwan -- which Beijing still claims as part of its territory to be reunified by force if necessary -- and disputes in the East and South China Seas as Beijing's overriding concerns.

"By and large, China remains a regional power with regional concerns, as demonstrated in 2010 by a series of exercises, construction projects and equipment purchases," it said.

But the report underlined that the world's military powers were watching China warily as it begins "tentatively to explore operations further afield".

Those concerns heightened on Friday when China announced a double-digit rise its defence budget in 2011, with spending to increase 12.7 percent to 601.1 billion yuan ($91.5 billion).

That was a return to normal service for China -- the 7.5 percent rise last year broke with a multi-year trend of double-digit percentage increases in Chinese military spending.

The IISS said however that China's goal of closing the technological gap with the West could be undermined by "serious structural weaknesses".

"One overarching problem is the widespread duplication and balkanisation of industrial and research facilities," it said.

Factories producing arms are scattered around the vast country "and often possess outdated manufacturing and research attributes", it said.

Elsewhere in Asia, the IISS said North Korea's military ranks as the fourth-largest in the world, with only China, the United States and India ahead of it.

Approximately five percent of North Korea's estimated population of 24 million are active military personnel "and these forces are equipped with a substantial array of military equipment", the study says.

The North sparked regional security fears in November when it disclosed an apparently functional uranium enrichment plant to visiting US experts.

The announcement raised concerns that the reclusive Stalinist state could produce highly-enriched weapons-grade uranium on top of the plutonium it already possesses.

The IISS said North Korea -- which has carried out two nuclear weapons tests -- has enough plutonium to produce four to eight warheads.

earlier related report
US denies concerns over Taiwan-China ties
Taipei (AFP) March 8, 2011 - The US is positive about Taiwan's ever-closer economic relationship with China and rejects concerns that the cosy ties are not in Washington's interests, its de facto envoy to Taipei said Tuesday.

William Stanton, the director of the American Institute in Taiwan, said Washington has welcomed the increased dialogue between the island and mainland since President Ma Ying-jeou came to power in 2008.

"Now, some observers believe the United States is uncomfortable with improved cross-Strait ties, that we feel threatened, or nervous, or left out," Stanton said while addressing the 20th anniversary of Taiwan's quasi-official Straits Exchange Foundation.

"Let me tell you categorically that this is not the case."

The foundation has been authorised by its government to play a key role in negotiations between Taiwan and its former bitter rival China, due to the lack of official contact.

"First, we are not nervous about improving cross-Strait ties because Taiwan is a vibrant, thriving democracy whose citizens embrace the privilege and responsibility of participatory government."

Closer links between Taiwan and China are good for the region and for the United States, he said.

"In a world beset by uncertainty, upheaval and potential flashpoints -- just look at the headlines from the Middle East and the Korean peninsula -- a peaceful and stable Taiwan Strait is, frankly speaking, a godsend."

The US diplomat especially welcomed the sweeping Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement signed by Taiwan and China last year.

The trade pact has been characterised as the boldest step yet towards reconciliation between the former rivals, who split in 1949 after a civil war. Beijing still views Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification.

Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang party has hailed the agreement, saying it will bolster the island's economy, but the anti-China Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its allies claim it will undermine its de facto independence.

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