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Washington, Oct. 26 (CNA) US Republican presidential hopeful Gary Bauer Tuesday criticized former President George Bush for his erroneous assessment of Communist China's military threat and challenged Texas Governor George W. Bush to tell the American people whether he shares his father's dangerous view of Beijing's military intentions.

Former President Bush the other day told Fox Sunday News that "China is not seeking hegemony. I see no evidence, and I'd like one person who's a critic of China on the Republican right or the Democratic left to tell me why they think they are seeking hegemony?"

Bauer responded Tuesday by asking if President Bush had forgotten that China conducted missile tests off the coast of Taiwan in 1995 and 1996 and whether he was aware that their military held missile attack exercises against mock US troops within the past year.

"I am appalled that former President Bush would adopt the mantra of the Clinton-Gore administration, which can only encourage military aggression by the repressive government of China," said the conservative Republican leader.

He pointed out that a Pentagon report completed in September concluded that Communist China is developing "one of the most daunting conventional theater missile challenges in the world...which could have significant implications for regional stability.

"I am very concerned that this misguided view of China's intentions is shared by Bush's son, George W. Bush," said Bauer.

Commenting on Gov. Bush's recent call for a relaxation of US supercomputer export controls, Bauer stated that "at a time when China is using such technology to design and test nuclear weapons, it is shocking that a Republican presidential candidate would advocate a policy that shows less regard for our national security than the current irresponsible policies of the Clinton-Gore administration."

Bauer added that "Gov. Bush needs to immediately tell the American people whether he shares his father's misguided and dangerous view of China's military intentions." (By Nelson Chung)