. 24/7 Space News .
SUPERPOWERS
'No reason' for Russia to view US as threat: Pentagon
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Jan 4, 2016


Russia has no reason to consider the United States a threat to its national security, the Pentagon said Monday after Moscow published a report highlighting Washington and NATO for the first time.

Russia's new national security document, signed by President Vladimir Putin on New Year's Eve, names as threats both the United States and the expansion of the NATO alliance, according to the Pentagon's official news channel.

The previous document, from 2009, does not mention the United States or NATO.

"They have no reason to consider us a threat," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters.

"We are not looking for conflict with Russia," he added.

Russia's characterization reflects worsening relations between Moscow and Washington, as the two powers remain opposed on Ukraine and the civil war in Syria.

"We have our differences ... but it's fundamentally wrong to look at the United States as a threat to Russia," Davis added.

Still, the United States has previously used similar language to describe Moscow.

General Joseph Dunford, the top officer in the US military, said in July 2015 that Russia posed the biggest threat to American national security. The Pentagon said the new Russian document does not change Dunford's assessment.

Speaking in Stuttgart, Germany on Monday, Dunford said he hoped to eventually meet with his Russian counterpart, General Valery Gerasimov.

"When you are in a period of difficulty, having a military-to-military, professional relationship ... can, one, help you better understand what you are dealing with, and, two, mitigate the risk of miscalculation," Dunford said.

Dunford is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and serves as the top military advisor for the president and defense secretary.

China announces military reforms
Beijing (UPI) Jan 4, 2016 -The Chinese government has announced new reforms to its military in an effort to improve the combat readiness of the People's Liberation Army.

The reforms, announced by China's Central Military Commission, include the establishment of three new military institutions under the People's Liberation Army, including strategic support troops, the rocket force, and an army leadership institution, according to CCTV America.

"The establishment of the army leadership institution, the rocket troops, and the strategic support troops is important," China President Xi Jingping said in a statement. "This will definitely be a crucial milestone in modernizing China's military and be enshrined in people's military history."

President Xi also serves as the Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense said at a press conference one of the planned institutions, the Rocket Force, will develop and operate missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. However, the spokesperson maintains the country's nuclear capabilities will be kept a the minimum required for its national security interests.

The Rocket Force is an upgraded version of China's Second Artillery Force, which operates both conventional and strategic missile weapons.

The announcement comes roughly a week after the Chinese government unveiled its plans to construct a second aircraft carrier for Chinese naval forces.

Chinese military expansion has come under scrutiny from the United States and other countries, as the military continues to push its presence into the South China Sea, one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
SUPERPOWERS
China restructures military as Xi eyes 'strong army'
Shanghai (AFP) Jan 2, 2016
China has unveiled changes to the structure of its military, adding three new units, described by President Xi Jinping as "a major policy decision to realise the Chinese dream of a strong army", state media reported. The formation of the new units, which follows Beijing's announcement that it was building a second aircraft carrier, comes with China acting more aggressively in territorial dis ... read more


SUPERPOWERS
Rare full moon on Christmas Day

LADEE Mission Shows Force of Meteoroid Strikes on Lunar Exosphere

XPRIZE verifies moon express launch contract, kicking off new space race

Gaia's sensors scan a lunar transit

SUPERPOWERS
NASA suspends March launch of InSight mission to Mars

University researchers test prototype spacesuits at Kennedy

Marshall: Advancing the technology for NASA's Journey to Mars

Opportunity positioned on steeper slopes for another Martian winter

SUPERPOWERS
Gadgets get smarter, friendlier at CES show

Astronauts Tour Future White Room, Crew Access Tower

ISRO's year in review 2015

Celebrity chefs create gourmet delights for astronauts

SUPERPOWERS
China launches HD earth observation satellite

Chinese rover analyzes moon rocks: First new 'ground truth' in 40 years

Agreement with Chinese Space Tech Lab Will Advance Exploration Goals

China launches new communication satellite

SUPERPOWERS
British astronaut dials wrong number on Xmas call from space

Space Station Receives New Space Tool to Help Locate Ammonia Leaks

Two whacks is all it takes for spacewalk repair

Unscheduled spacewalk likely on Monday

SUPERPOWERS
Russian Proton-M Carrier Rocket With Express-AMU1 Satellite Launched

45th Space Wing launches ORBCOMM; historically lands first stage booster

SpaceX rocket landing opens 'new door' to space travel

NASA orders second Boeing Crew Mission to ISS

SUPERPOWERS
Nearby star hosts closest alien planet in the 'habitable zone'

ALMA reveals planetary construction sites

Monster planet is 'dancing with the stars'

Exoplanets Water Mystery Solved

SUPERPOWERS
Transition metal catalyst prompts 'conjunctive' cross-coupling reaction

New technique offers strong, flawless 3-D printed ceramics

UCLA researchers create exceptionally strong and lightweight new metal

Japanese research team earns right to name Element 113









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.