Posted on 06/21/2004 12:55:23 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
The U.S. government has cited China as the No. 1 threat to global security for the second time in less than a month.
Both the Pentagon and the Commission on U.S-China Economic and Security Review cited Beijing as a major threat to U.S. national security. The two reports noted the growing military capability of China combined with its predatory economic policy is aimed directly at the United States.
The latest report released by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission was approved by a "unanimous vote of all eleven Commissioners." According to the Commission China's co-operation on international security matters is "un-satisfactory."
The Commission examined in depth the extent of ongoing co-operation between China and the United States on traditional national security matters, most particularly China's assistance in re-solving the North Korea nuclear weapons crisis. The Commission believes that China's performance in this area to date has been unsatisfactory, and we are concerned that U.S. pressure on trade disputes and other unrelated aspects of the relationship may have been toned down by the administration as a concession for China's hoped-for cooperation on this and other vital security matters."
Economic War
According to the report, China is deliberately using economic warfare against America to seek a "competitive advantage over U.S. manufacturers."
"Economic fundamentals suggest that the Chinese yuan is undervalued, with a growing consensus of economists estimating the level of undervaluation to be anywhere from fifteen to forty percent. The Chinese government persistently intervenes in the foreign exchange market to keep its exchange rate pegged at 8.28 yuan per dollar, and through these actions appears to be manipulating its currency valuation," states the report.
The Commission also noted that China is violating its pledges to the World Trade Organization and that U.S. investors may actually be investing in the PLA military expansion.
"China has deliberately frustrated the effectiveness and debased the value of the WTO's TRM (Transitional Review Mechanism) which was intended to be a robust mechanism for assessing China's WTO compliance and for placing multilateral pressure on China to address compliance shortfalls."
"Without adequate information about Chinese firms trading in international capital markets, U.S. investors may be unwittingly pouring money into black box firms lacking basic corporate governance structures, as well as enterprises involved in activities harmful to U.S. security interests," noted the report.
Weapons for Oil
The Commission report also noted that China continues to proliferate advanced weapons to many of its client states including North Korea, Pakistan, and Iran. In addition, China now appears to be willing to trade weapons for oil.
"China's growing energy needs, linked to its rapidly expanding economy, are creating economic and security concerns for the United States. China's energy security policies are driving it into bilateral arrangements that undermine multilateral efforts to stabilize oil supplies and prices, and in some cases may involve dangerous weapons transfers," stated the report.
"China has sought energy cooperation with countries of concern to the United States, including Iran and Sudan, which are inaccessible by U.S. and other western firms. Some analysts have voiced suspicions that China may have offered WMD-related transfers as a component of some of its energy deals," noted the Commission.
New Weapons
The Commission report also revealed that Russia has sold China a more advanced version of the deadly SUNBURN (3M83 Moskit) cruise missile. Nikolay Shcherbakov, adviser to the director general of the Altair Naval Scientific Research Institute of Electronic Engineering, is reported as saying that "we are supplying China with new-generation equipment. We have been allowed to supply MOSKIT supersonic antiship cruise missiles with twice the range - 240km instead of the existing 120."
The Commission also noted a growing concern that China would use nuclear weapons to attack and defeat U.S. forces in the event of a war over Taiwan.
"Recognizing the possible involvement of the U.S. military, the current scholarship on China's R & D finds that PRC strategists believe that a superior navy could be defeated through the disabling of its space-based systems, as for example, by exo-atmospheric detonation of a nuclear warhead to generate an electromagnetic pulse," stated the report.
In addition, the Commission noted that China is pursuing an advanced laser weapon for use against Taiwanese and U.S. forces.
"It has recently been reported that China has successfully developed a laser cannon with a range of more than one hundred kilometers and might have already deployed it in Fujian Province facing Taiwan."
Shooting War in 2005
The Commission's report painted a deadly and growing picture of the Chinese threat with a possible conflict only a year away.
"The China Affairs Department of the Democratic Progressive Party published a report on China's basic military capabilities in which it said that Beijing had developed a 'sudden strike' strategy to attack Taiwan. This story discussed a scenario in which an attack would consist of an initial seven-minute shock and strike missile barrage that would paralyze Taiwan's command system, followed by seventeen minutes in which Taiwan's air space will be invaded by fighter jets. Within twenty-four hours of the strike, 258,000 Chinese troops could be deployed in Taiwan. China's fast-growing military modernization and expansion is aimed at a possible war between 2005 and 2010, according to the report," stated the Commission report.
In early June the Pentagon released a Congressionally mandated report on Chinese military developments. The Pentagon report outlined the double-digit increases in Chinese defense spending and major weapons purchases from Russia.
China currently is third in total defense spending, behind the U.S. and Russia, with nearly $100 billion a year now budgeted for the PLA. The Pentagon report noted that the PLA double-digit increases are expected to continue through 2010.
According to the report, the Chinese build-up of ballistic missiles has changed the balance of power in the Pacific, threatening to start a war over Taiwan. China currently has an estimated 550 short-range missiles opposite Taiwan.
"China most likely will be able to cause significant damage to all of Taiwan's airfields and quickly degrade Taiwan's ground based air-defenses and associated command and control through a combination of SRBMs (short range ballistic missiles), land-attack cruise missiles, special operation forces and other assets," stated the Pentagon report. The Pentagon report noted that China is increasing its long-range missile capability and is expected to expand its inventory to 30 such missiles by the end of 2005. The Pentagon anticipates the Chinese long-range nuclear missile force will exceed 60 before the end of the decade.
Nuclear War
The Pentagon report also warned that Chinese military strategists are considering the use of nuclear weapons against U.S. and Taiwanese forces. According to the Pentagon, a nuclear weapon detonated at high altitude would create an "electromagnetic" shock wave that will disrupt U.S. communications and scramble sophisticated military computers. "PLA theorists who have become aware of these electromagnetic effects may have considered using a nuclear weapon as an unconventional attack option," stated the Pentagon report.
Chinese authorities have reacted explosively to the recent reports, especially over the U.S. commitment to Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao underscored the unstable nature of China's relationship by threatening to use military force to seize control of the tiny island nation.
According to the official PRC news Xinhua, China will never tolerate "Taiwan independence", neither will China allow anybody to split Taiwan from the motherland with any means.
"The Taiwan independence activities are the greatest threats to the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," stated Liu. The official PRC spokesman also asked the United States to stop selling advanced weapons to Taiwan under any pretenses and refrain from sending wrong signals to Taiwan.
Chinese don't assimilate well. The overt pressures on children to marry stragically in a manner to specificlly direct family wealth ensures this. In many ways, the overseas Chinese are like the Ashkenazi, e.g.portable wealth, plus a propensity to be owner operators, however, unlike them they do not share Western Judeo-christian values with their host societies.
There are naysayers right here on this thread who are ex parasites who have recast themselves as nationless bootlickers of global strip mall know nothingism. I'll let you guess who I might be aluding to! ;)
So tell us about all of your direct experience with sourcing hardware manufacturing, site moves and insourcing. We are waiting in suspense.
Actually, if I were the ChiCom government, I would have a very LOW confidence level in the capabilities of Chinese strategic forces--because not one of those weapons has been live-fired. The last missile that went through a live-fire test was the Polaris A-1 (Operation Dominic, Shot Frigate Bird), and that was in 1962. Kindly note that the Polaris A-1 went out of service in 1965.
Given the rather astonishing levels of corruption in China, a wise ChiCom defense minister would worry about whether those missiles that are "operational" are really going to work when the word comes to turn keys. You can test-fly aircraft on a moment's notice, and then return it to the flight line. You can test-fly a missile...once.
Meanwhile, I would also note that the US places a large fraction of its nuclear forces on strategic bombers...and bombers are known to work.
There you go again. There's a Miuteman III test tomorrow from VAFB. We also test Peacekeepers on a relatively regular basis as well. Shut up while your behind.
Yeah but he is somehow a valued insider, one of the zotmeisters. Quite frankly, it must be from some earlier brownie points from back in 98 or 99. These days he acts more like a troll (while calling me and many other solid conservatives trolls!). Personally I think it's time for some new sheriffs in these here parts, but what do I know. According to the current zotmeisters I am all sorts of nasty things and am on the dole - oh and also, according to them, I am 17 years old. If only! ;)
Are you a conservative or a liberal?
First, none of the tests are conducted in a live-fire environment.
Second, as I pointed out, you can test a specific missile once--after the test, it is most assuredly not reusable.
I am a conservative...at least, to those who have not confused "nationalist socialist" and "conservative."
I'm not doubting you, but if this were the case, why were RAM supplies seriously disrupted a couple of years back when Taiwan was hit with a large earthquake?
marker bump
For components / wafers, I'll admit there are still important facilities on Taiwan. But not for long. Those are in the process of going to the mainland to, as much as Taiwanese law allows. Thank God Taiwanese law is at least slowing this....
And they have be SO AFRAID with Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton holding the button. All the Chi-Comms had to do was spend a few million to manipulate our election. And soon, their buddy John eFFing Kerry will hold the button. Didn't you ever wonder where the ANSWER crowd came from in Washington DC the very WEEK of the 9-11 attack...and WHO PAID FOR IT??
Actually the looming nationalization factored in DOES pretty much offset any 'losses' you are assuming. And then some. With interest.
Never going to happen. As we used to say of the Soviets....'What's mine is mine, and what's yours...is negotiable...' It won't be possible to yank anything. Once they nationalize, the have the whole kit and kaboodle...and the free traitors will be hunted down like dogs.
I realize that, but it could happen if they take military action against Taiwan.
Actually, folks like Carter and Clinton the ones to be most afraid of: liberals, because of their disdain for the military, don't understand it, and tend to wind up massively over-reacting in the event of a crisis because they have to be perceived as "tough." Witness Jimmy's near-hysterical 1980 speech threatening the use of nuclear weapons if the USSR invaded Iran, and Bubba's profligate use of cruise missiles, and his orders to Gen. Wesley Clark that damn near started WW3 over the Russians getting to Pristina first.
Even the Taiwanese are making things in China now. Unbelievable. Thanks for the heads-up.
LOL!
You're quite the Naval expert. Or perhaps I meant "Navel"? :)
Complete this sentence without invoking a search engine or other reference material: "A stern chase is a ..."
Thank you.
PS: no fair anyone else helping him out.
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