Chinese Missile Bases
Posted on 07/19/2010 7:06:48 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
China will have 2,000 missiles aimed at its rival Taiwan by the end of the year, several hundred more than the current number, despite fast-warming trade ties between the two sides, an island defense study said. Beijing's preparations setting Taiwan further back in the military power balance against its political adversary could destroy 90 percent of the island's infrastructure, the report published in the defense ministry's naval studies periodical said.
The increase from today's estimate of 1,000 to 1,400 missiles could raise tensions after two years of upbeat dialogue between the rivals that has cleared the way for direct civilian flights and a free trade-style deal in June.
"Even though we've signed the trade deal, there won't be any progress on military issues," Hsu Yung-ming, political science professor at Soochow University.
China claims sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan and has not renounced the use of force to bring the island into its fold.
A new threat to detente between tech-reliant Taiwan and economic powerhouse China, already the island's top export destination, would likely chill financial markets as investors hope to see relations gain momentum.
The 2,000 short-range and mid-range missiles aimed at the island just 160 km (99 miles) away at its nearest point would follow from Beijing's broader plans to modernize its military, said Taiwan Deputy Defence Minister Andrew Yang.
(Excerpt) Read more at ca.reuters.com ...
Ping
And who is one of the largest investors in China’s manufacturing base? Taiwan.
*prays for Taiwan*
“The increase from today’s estimate of 1,000 to 1,400 missiles could raise tensions after two years of upbeat dialogue between the rivals that has cleared the way for direct civilian flights and a free trade-style deal in June.”
Hey, let’s talk...until I get armed really well.
Same Here
Nuclear powers squaring off.
Interesting times indeed.
If America had a president, he could do the same thing for the SE Asian theatre.
Nuclear powers squaring off.
Problem is, Taiwan doesn’t have nukes.
The aim of China is to surround Taiwan and tighten a noose so completely that they force it to surrender. China believes (rightly, if we continue on our current trajectory) that the US’ viablility as a world power and defense partner with treaty obligations to Taiwan more than another decade or so. Once the US collapses, they can simply blocakde Taiwan and they believe Taiwan will, within months, fall into their hands like overripe fruit.
I think China might be surprised. Both Taiwan and Japan aren’t blind. They BOTH know that the US is in desparate straights, and they have to asked themselves before — what happens to us in the US is no longer there to cover us? WHat if they no longer “got our backs?” I think both of these countries have underground nuclear programs — nothing ACTUAL, but they have the technology, the plans, and the brain power/know how to build a bomb and deliever it — should they ever need to. And to do it relatively quickly. China is a BIG enemy. If they don’t, they’re more the fools for it...
Ping
Sure it doesn't.
In Exactly the same way Israel didn't have nukes until they admitted to them in 1998
But just as the US military and most intelligence agencies were really really not surprised in 1998, and wouldn't have been in the 50s either, nobody who has paid attention (or were stationed in certain places in the early 80s) really thinks Taiwan is not a nuclear power.
If China thought so Taiwan's independance would have ended during the Clinton years.
despite fast-warming trade ties between the two sidesSounds like "fast-warming" will be the operative phrase in the near future. Thanks sonofstrangelove.
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