[sukhoi-30mki]

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/spratly-clash.htm

It was about the Spratley islands all right.

[BroncosFan]

Thanks for the nice "China Defense Today link." That site 'twas news to me. Dale Brown had a silly book about the Spratleys years back. Events have superseded it, but it gives one the lay of the land.

Question: what's the best guess on the number of DF-31s in the PRC's arsenal? After all, road-mobile solid-fuel MIRV-capable launchers are the wet dream of any aspiring great power. The Cox Report seemed to dance a bit on this issue. But, re: secure second strike capabilities, it seems a rather key issue.