World / President Obama China to US: Don't 'Flex Your Muscles' Here Beijing responds to Obama's military plan By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff Posted Jan 6, 2012 9:57 AM CST Copied President Barack Obama, accompanied by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, and others, speaks on the Defense Strategic Review, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari) China has offered a mixed response to President Obama's big military announcement yesterday. While state media seemed to welcome the idea of an increased American presence in the Asia-Pacific region, it added that the US "should abstain from flexing its muscles, as this won't help solve regional disputes." Any "indiscreetly" applied militarism would "be like a bull in a china shop, and endanger peace instead of enhancing regional stability." But the Xinhua editorial noted that US presence could help ensure a "peaceful environment" and help China's economy grow. The piece comes after Obama said the US would "be strengthening our presence in the Asia-Pacific." While Chinese officials probably weren't surprised by the plan, some might view it as an effort to restrict Chinese growth, the BBC notes. (More President Obama stories.) Report an error