Rumsfeld: China understates military build-up

Speaking to reporters in Beijing during a visit that aims to pave the way for US President Bush's trip to China in November, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said China needed to be more transparent about its military build-up, adding that the US and other countries would like to know why China had understated its military expenditure, the Washington Post reported. Rumsfeld praised China's economic development and said that increased economic and military openness should also lead to political openness. It is expected he will also discuss Taiwan and North Korea during his visit.