Some analysts said the delay of the report, like that of the report by the Treasury on China's currency value, was obviously in line with their role of serving U.S. interests in playing down differences in bilateral relations.
The report, as usual, interferes with the internal affairs of China by making willful comments on the situation across the Taiwan Straits.
Beijing has "continued unabated" the military build-up near the Taiwan Straits, and that "the balance of cross-Strait military forces continues to shift in the mainland's favor," it says.
China's economic achievements and technological progress have enabled the country to embark on a comprehensive transformation of its military, the report says.
"Current trends in China's military capabilities are a major factor in changing East Asian military balances and could provide China with a force capable of conducting a range of military operations in Asia well beyond Taiwan," it said.
The title of the report for this year is Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, in contrast to the Military Power of the People's Republic of China over the past years.
The Pentagon report acknowledges that the Chinese military has contributed to global peacekeeping and humanitarian operations and anti-piracy operation, calling for more military cooperation.
"The pace and scope of China's military modernization have increased over the past decade, enabling China's armed forces to develop capabilities to contribute to the delivery of international public goods," it says.
The United States welcomes these capabilities, and wants to work with China to develop them further, says the report.
