WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China appears on track to forge a modern military by 2020, a rapid buildup that could be potentially destabilizing to the Asia-Pacific region, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

Fueled by its booming economy, China’s military growth in the past decade has exceeded most U.S. forecasts. Its aircraft carrier program, cyber warfare capabilities and anti-satellite missiles have alarmed neighbors and Washington.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China appears on track to build a modern, regionally-focused military by 2020, but often-touted advances like its stealth fighter jet are years away from being operational, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

The Defense Department’s annual assessment of the Chinese military also flagged Beijing’s growing military edge over Taiwan and cyber attacks in 2010 — including on U.S. government computers — that seem to have originated in China.

WASHINGTON/MONTEREY, California (Reuters) – NATO planners are finding it harder to isolate targets in Tripoli due to rebel movement throughout the city, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, as Defence Secretary Leon Panetta voiced hopes the alliance could soon start winding down its Libya mission.

The United States, which is providing Predator drones and other air capabilities to the NATO mission, had sharply stepped up the tempo of its air strikes on Libya over the past week and a half, according to Pentagon data.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Libyan rebels appeared to be in control of most of Tripoli, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, adding that it was sticking to its assessment that leader Muammar Gaddafi had not left the country.

Calling the situation fluid, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said that Gaddafi’s forces remained dangerous even though their command capabilities had been diminished by major rebel advances into the heart of the capital and NATO air strikes.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has pressed for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down, but a leadership vacuum raises concerns about the security of Libya’s weapons stockpiles and the danger of them falling into the hands of adversaries, officials said on Monday.

Libyan rebels have taken over most of Tripoli, Gaddafi’s location is unknown, and great uncertainty exists about who will eventually end up in charge of the country.

CAIRO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Egypt and the United States are scrapping this year’s planned military drills, known as Bright Star, the largest exercises of their kind in the region, Egyptian and U.S. military sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

An Egyptian army official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said political upheaval this year that saw Hosni Mubarak overthrown got in the way of planning the biannual exercises.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States may lose its chance to reshape the politics of the Middle East if budget pressures hobble U.S. support for democratic forces emerging in countries such as Egypt and Tunisia, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday.

Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, appearing in a townhall-style meeting, argued strongly against further cuts to military, diplomatic and development spending as the United States struggles to slash its $1.4 trillion deficit.

WASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Reuters) – A U.S. sale of 66 new
Lockheed Martin (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) F-16 C/D fighter jets to Taiwan appears
unlikely to go through, people familiar with the matter said on
Monday, although they cautioned that no final decision has been
reached.

Taiwan has repeatedly asked Washington to agree to sell it
the advanced F-16 fighter jets, citing the need to counter the
growing military strength of China, which views the island as a
breakaway province.

WASHINGTON/KABUL (Reuters) – NATO-led forces killed the Taliban militants responsible for shooting down a U.S. helicopter last weekend but not the insurgent leader targeted in the doomed mission, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan said on Wednesday.

The disclosure by General John Allen came during a briefing on the crash that killed 30 U.S. forces — most of them elite Navy SEALs — in the single deadliest incident for the U.S. military in the Afghan war. Eight Afghans were also killed in the crash in a remote valley southwest of Kabul.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama pledged on Monday to forge ahead with his Afghan war strategy and the Pentagon sought to dispel fears of a Taliban resurgence after militants shot down a helicopter killing 30 U.S. troops, mainly elite Navy SEALs.

Saturday’s crash was the deadliest incident for U.S. forces since the war in Afghanistan began nearly a decade ago and followed a series of high-profile assassinations and attacks by the insurgents over the past several months.