Pentagon official: China not a future challenge but 'a problem here and now'

East Asia Intel ^ | 04.19.05 | East Asian Intel

[Dr. Marten]

Pentagon official: China not a future challenge but 'a problem here and now' 

East-Asia-Intel.com, April 19, 2005

A senior Pentagon official told Congress last week that China's military power is growing. "We have watched as China's armed forces have progressed rapidly," said Peter Rodman, assistant defense secretary for international security affairs.

Peter Rodman, assistant defense secretary for international security affairs U.S. Department of Defense

Rodman noted that the threat from China is not only a future challenge but "a problem here and now."

Double-digit percentage rate increases in military spending for the past 15 have sped up China's military buildup, Rodman told a joint hearing of the House International Relations and Armed Services Committees.

"The PLA is no longer a Third World military force," he said. "In certain areas it is becoming a First World military force - in areas such as ballistic and cruise missiles, advanced fighters and multi-role aircraft, advanced submarines with anti-ship cruise missiles. It is now a force that is gradually tipping the balance of regional military power and posing a greater danger to U.S. military forces in a potential conflict."

 

 

 

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[Dr. Marten]

Pentagon official: China not a future challenge but 'a problem here and now'

 

[tx_eggman]

The PLA is no longer a Third World military force," he said. "In certain areas it is becoming a First World military force - in areas such as ballistic and cruise missiles

Thank to Slick Willie ...

[Dr. Marten]

PLA Ping!

[TXBSAFH]

Please add me to yo PLA ping list, thank you.

[Dr. Marten]

I don't have a "PLA" list. It's just a China ping list,but if you still want on I can take care of that.

[risk]

bump - this is getting serious

[TXBSAFH]

Please do, thank you.

[Terpfen]

Could you add me to your China pinglist as well? Thank you.

[Dr. Marten]

no problem.

Feel free to stop over at The Horses Mouth too.

[raybbr]

Thank to Slick Willie ...

Not just him but add to that every U.S. corporation willing to send billions upon billions of dollars there for cheap labor.

[CDHart]

Clinton's true legacy--

Carolyn

[Paul_Denton]

Can you add me to the PLA ping list?

[Paul_Denton]

Well Chinaping list anyway

[Paul_Denton]

ping

[spower]

bump

[Dr. Marten]

LOL..no problem Paul.

Done.

[TalBlack]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The Chinese, when it suits them economically, will attempt to take charge of their hemisphere. And there is some Chinese general,or perhaps a LOT of them, who have been watching America's military actions thru the 90's to the present, and more importantly who have been watching America's military culture from the 70's to the present, who are just aching to start the fight.

[HankReardon]

Whatever happened to this country dealing with traitors that sold sensitive technology to the enemy? The Rosenburgs were executed.

[Terpfen]

The Horses Mouth?

[BobL]

"Not just him but add to that every U.S. corporation willing to send billions upon billions of dollars there for cheap labor."

Not just Slick 50 or the Carporations (as Maggie Thatcher would say), but a lot of people on this side (but not this thread, yet). I've been screaming the same warning for months here and get shot down by otherwise conservative Republicans saying, in effect, that since we are America, we have nothing to worry about - so why bother trying to look strong. Daaaaa.

This is an example, just from the past 2 days. Note the anti-US rhetoric being used by people on our side (comments to the effect that we can't afford any more nukes).

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1388717/posts?page=25#1


Unfortunately, just like the Cold War, it's up to us to play Daddy, and provide for this country's defenses, regardless of the childish behavior of the left. But if we're unable to do that (i.e., recognize an enemy [i.e., China] and deal with them), then we lose. And that's a bummer for my kids.