Posted on 03/07/2005 2:00:34 PM PST by Bald Eagle777
BRITAIN is facing an increasingly acrimonious argument with America over military exports to China after the Communist party pledged yesterday to push through legislation allowing for war with Taiwan.
Washington fears its sailors and pilots could face weapons guided by European technology in a battle over Taiwan, which split from China in 1949 and is a thriving democracy.
One example cited by American analysts is a micro-satellite developed by Surrey University’s commercial arm which will give China increased ability to survey the Taiwan Straits and enhance knowledge that could be used to wage war in space.
The firm, Surrey Satellite Technologies Limited (SSTL), says the micro-satellite, to be launched this year, is for disaster monitoring. But western diplomats in Beijing say it is a classic example of “dual use” equipment that will be exploited for military ends.
Defence specialists at the conservative Heritage Foundation say the satellite employs “technology the Chinese acknowledge will be used in ‘parasitic’ anti-satellite weapons that would attach themselves to larger communications or global positioning satellites and await ground signals to self-destruct”.
Although SSTL is supplying the ministry of science and technology, it is the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) that exercises ultimate authority over China’s drive to acquire space-based surveillance and communications systems.
At the National People’s Congress yesterday, Wen Jiabao, the prime minister, promised Beijing “would never allow secessionist forces . . . to separate Taiwan from China”.
The congress will pass a law that says China can intervene if the island declares independence or becomes a threat to national security.
It will intensify the dispute between London and Washington over British support for plans to lift a European Union embargo on arms sales to Beijing, imposed after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. America is threatening severe restrictions on technology sales to European companies in reprisal.
China’s determination to upgrade its fighting forces was in no doubt yesterday when the congress was told of PLA plans to reduce the army by 200,000 men to devote more of its budget — some £14 billion this year — to improving high-tech weaponry.
Under government guidelines, Britain sells Beijing only “non-lethal” equipment. But study papers written by China’s own defence planners reveal their real priority is not bullets, but software.
Their ambition is to rival the US Seventh Fleet in the sophisticated guidance and radar systems that would determine the outcome of a war to “liberate” Taiwan fought chiefly in the air and at sea. That makes the British balancing act increasingly precarious.
London has already been criticised in Washington for allowing Rolls-Royce to supply Spey jet engines for the Chinese navy’s Xian JH-7 fighter-bomber.
Rolls-Royce says the engines represent 1960s technology. However, defence attachés visiting an air show in the southern city of Zhuhai noted that the Chinese had used the engines to upgrade the JH-7 into a weapons platform for a long-range missile.
US experts believe the JH-7 represents a new offensive strike capability for the Chinese navy that would undoubtedly be deployed against the Seventh Fleet.
In this climate, US diplomats and military personnel in the region feel distinctly lukewarm about closer military ties between Britain and China.
Although France, Italy and Germany all crave the opportunity to sell weapons to Beijing, the Americans have gone out of their way to brief high-ranking British officials in detail about the risk of a limited conflict between the US and China.
Chinese leaders have made their determination to resist any Taiwanese move to declare independence into a patriotic totem.
The Americans have previously indicated that if Taiwan showed the will to fight “reunification” with China, they would be prepared to launch operations ranging from the destruction of missile sites in the coastal province of Fujian to attacks on Chinese cities.
EU countries such as Britain getting high tech gear to China (even "dual use" satellite gear) are not "helpful" to our cause to say the least.
Here we go...
If they haven't already, Taiwan needs to go nuclear. A few dozen deliverable warheads have a marvelous deterrent power.
If they haven't already, Taiwan needs to go nuclear. A few dozen deliverable warheads have a marvelous deterrent power.
The EUrinals will vote on that in the next two months. They need the money for their broken down economies.
Screw the alliances.
Sad..............
All about money
The UK Government's position is that Taiwan is part of China, not an independant state. Because of this it sees no reason not to sell arms etc. (its been selling radar systems and helicopters during the ban anyway)
Excellent question. I don't have the precise scientific answer to that age-old question. There's only one way to find out for sure (if need be). I wonder if the ChiComs truly realize what they could be getting themselves into should they pull any "funny business" and invade Taiwan and/or start taking shots at a CVBG.
All President Bush needs to do is to inform Beijing (privately at first, in public if it doesn't sink in) that any ChiCom attack on Taiwan will be considered an attack on America's vital interests and will be met with a nuclear response, the first target will be Beijing itself.
Communist China desperately wants to be considered as a legitimate major world player, and it will be damn hard for them to achieve that when their Navy and Air Force are smoking wreckage and a green glowing crater exists where Beijing used to be.
This is another situation we can thank Jimmy Buffoon Carter for, he was the one who pushed for the 'One China' policy and pulled the rug out from under Taipei, just like he did to the Shah in Iran.
Thanks Jimmy. For Nothing.
# 1) Support for Mao-Tse Dong and opposition to KMT in the 40s and 50s = Communism;
# 2) One China policy = Communism;
# 3) Great Panama Canal Giveaway = Communism;
# 4) High tech exports to China = Communism;
# 5) Factories to China = Communism;
# 6)) Money-blinded so-called "capitalism" = Communism..
etc, etc the list goes on and on. It is high time that the kid gloves come off.
Let the games begin and let the flags fly. Let all parties fly their true colors once and for all until the END.
China, and all its aiders and abettors abroad, and AT HOME, need to sink.
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