Lt-Gen Edward Rice, the outgoing commander of the 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan, said on October 21 2010 that during almost three years in his post, he had observed a significant growth in the strength and capabilities of China's military.

"It's a fact that the People's Republic of China has fielded in recent years increasingly capable systems," Rice said in remarks quoted by U.S. National Public Radio (NPR). "At the same time, certainly, the U.S. has continued to modernize its forces. What's important here is to maintain a balance."

Rice said that increasing friction, uncertainty and disputes might be unavoidable in Asia as China's economy grew and its military became more modernized, but armed conflict was not inevitable.