China has reacted angrily to the US defence department's report to Congress on Chinese military power, condemning the Pentagon for "unreasonably" and "rudely" attacking Beijing's modernisation of its armed forces.

Beijing protests too much. The US document - neither as hawkish as Pentagon hardliners nor as accommodating as State department doves would like - is measured and clearly written. It does not reach alarmist conclusions but summarises what is known about Chinese strategy and the People's Liberation Army and sets out a range of plausible scenarios. The report talks of a possible future threat to Asia but also says China's ability to project its power is currently limited and declares that the US would welcome the rise of a peaceful and prosperous China.