military 'to be projected' further, stronger
China said yesterday it will project its military further beyond its borders at sea and more assertively in the air, defending the construction of artificial islands which sparked concerns in Washington. The people's Liberation Army navy will put a greater emphasis "open seas protection", rather than "offshore waters defence" alone, the State Council, China's cabinet, said in a white paper. At the same time its air force will shift focus "from territorial air defence to both defence and offence," it said. The army will increase its global mobility and artillery forces will strengthen capabilities for "medim and long-rang precision strikes", it added. The paper