China Challenges US Predominance in Asia-Pacific   
   

Fifteen years ago, when China launched threatening war games off Taiwan on the eve of an election on the self-governing island, the US deployed two aircraft carriers, and China quickly backed down. Things don't seem so one-sided any more. China's military has been on a spending spree at a time that the debt-ridden US government is looking to cut defense costs. On Friday, China announced a 12.7 percent hike for this year, the latest in a string of double-digit increases.                 (The Irrawaddy)

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