US Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed concern on Friday over China's developing military capabilities.

Gates said that there was concern about "developments underway with respect to Chinese military capabilities."

Gates' comments followed similar remarks from US Vice President Dick Cheney, who was visiting Australia. Cheney said that China's rapid military build-up was "not consistent with China's goal of a peaceful rise."

In a speech in Sydney, Cheney singled out a recent anti-satellite test in which China used a ballistic missile to destroy one of its own weather satellites in space.

China's military buildup is of particular concern to Taiwan. Taiwan officials say that China has as many as 1,000 missiles aimed at Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory even though the two sides have been ruled separately since 1949. China has yet to renounce the use of force to unify Taiwan and China.