Several countries, including centres Lanka, are likely to become centres of support for the People’s Republic of China, according to the latest Pentagon security report.

The report was prepared by the Pentagon, the US defence headquarters, on China’defenceary and defence development activities.

It said China could set up military bases into main to maintain maintaining its military presence over a large area.

Along with Sri Lanka, 13 countries including Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Pakistan are likely to use China for this purpose, the US report said.

It said China hopes to increase its naval and air force capabilities.

The Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka responded by saying in a Twitter message that the thief thought everyone else was stealing.

The United States has already set up 750 foreign military bases, the Chinese embassy said in a statement.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has responded to a report by the Pentagon that China could increase its nuclear arsenal to 1,000 by 2030.

He has said that China will not threaten any country that does not use nuclear weapons against China.