U.S. General Says China Missile Test Confusing

China's anti-satellite missile test in January sent a confusing message to the world about its military plans.

Marine General Peter Pace, chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the United States would like to observe more Chinese exercises and suggested a hot line between the two militaries could be useful.

China shot down an ageing weather satellite on Jan. 11, but waited more than a week before officially confirming it. The government denies the test could stoke an arms race in space, and repeated that it opposes using weapons in space.

Pace said he told his Chinese counterparts it was essential that China let the world know its military intentions.

"I used the example of the anti-satellite test as how sometimes the international community can be confused, because it was a surprise, and it wasn't clear what their intent was," he told a news conference during his first visit to China.

"And when things are not clear, and there are surprises, then it tends to confuse people and raise suspicions," Pace added.

"You don't have to agree or disagree with any particular country's objective, but it's very helpful to understand what those objectives are and why they're going in that direction," said Pace, who leaves China on Sunday.

But he said the Chinese had given him no further details on the test, nor had they said what their intention was in carrying it out.

Analysts say China could use its ability to down satellites to counter any spy satellite support that Washington might offer Taiwan if war were to break out between the self-ruled island and the mainland.

China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. Beijing has vowed to bring the self-governed democracy of 23 million people back under mainland rule, by force if necessary.

The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, recognising "one China", but is Taiwan's main arms supplier and is obliged by the Taiwan Relations Act to help the island defend itself.

Pace also said it was important Beijing provided more information on its military budget, which will rise 17.8 percent this year to almost $45 billion.

It was important to know "not only how much of a nation's resources are being put into the budget, but what is that money buying? What is the intent of that buying?", said the Vietnam War veteran.

Pace, who described his talks with Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan and other Chinese officials as friendly and candid, said setting up a hot line to avoid misunderstandings would be a good step forward, as would doing officer exchanges.

"The biggest fear I have of the future is miscalculation, misunderstanding based on misinformation," he said.

On Taiwan, a major irritant in Sino-U.S. ties, the general said he repeated the official U.S. line to the Chinese, which is that Washington does not support the island's independence.

Pace said he did not believe war over Taiwan was inevitable.

"I believe that there are good-faith efforts amongst all the leadership to prevent that, and that's what we can focus on -- not how to fight each other, but how to prevent military action," he said.