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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[maui_hawaii]

This is very bi-partisan.

And an ass whoopin is going to come in the cards soon.

Although the special interest groups would rather keep this off the table rather than fight....its going to be on the table front and center as long as the economy continues to perform as it has for the last 5 plus years.

Congress' interest in this matter is, is that they solve it themselves before the voters do.

[CDHart]

That's a good question. Bush has been doing some things lately that have me scratching my head and wondering what he's up to. I always remind myself that his father was the first to use the phrase "new world order" in public.

Carolyn

[warchild9]

The evidence is conclusive: W is no more in charge of national policy than you are, and that the Federal Government doesn't have the welfare of the middle class in mind.