Rumsfeld Issues a Sharp Rebuke to China on Arms

NY Times ^ | June 4, 2005 | THOM SHANKER

[neverdem]

SINGAPORE, Saturday, June 4 - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, in an unusually blunt public critique of China, said Saturday that Beijing's military spending threatened the delicate security balance in Asia and called for an emphasis instead on political freedom and open markets.

In a keynote address at an Asian security conference here, Mr. Rumsfeld argued that China's investment in missiles and up-to-date military technology posed a risk not only to Taiwan and to American interests, but also to nations across Asia that view themselves as China's trading partners, not rivals.

He said no "candid discussion of China" could neglect to address these military concerns directly, and criticized China for not admitting the full extent of what he described as its worrisome military expansion.

"Since no nation threatens China, one wonders: why this growing investment?" Mr. Rumsfeld asked.

His remarks come as Washington's stance regarding Beijing appears to be growing more critical. The United States has accused China of manipulating the value of its currency, for example, in order to increase exports, and of exerting heavy-handed pressure on Taiwan.

A joint warning from the American and Japanese defense and foreign ministers has rankled Chinese leaders, as has the Bush administration's insistence that Europe must not ease curbs on arms sales to China.

The administration has also been increasingly disappointed by China's apparent reluctance to press North Korea to resume talks on its nuclear weapons programs, as Mr. Rumsfeld again urged China to do.

Perhaps because of his emphasis on military developments, as well as trade and democracy, Mr. Rumsfeld's remarks, while measured, were more critical in tone than those heard in recent months from other administration officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who visited China in March. Before the election last year, she and her predecessor, Colin L...

[EagleUSA]

"Since no nation threatens China, one wonders: why this growing investment?" Mr. Rumsfeld asked.
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No Rummy - we don't wonder, we know. The ChiComs objective of world domination has never changed. Only foolish nations sell weapons systems to the ChiComs. With the exception of Clinton, of course. (ChinaGate).

[raybbr]

A question:

If China were to do something (invade Taiwan, for example) and we came to Taiwan's defense by declaring war on China, what would allies like Germany, Britain, India, France, etc. think about our attacking a country that they have so much invested in?

Or, what would the large corporations of America, who have billions invested in industrial enterprises in China, do in response to our warring with China?

Wouldn't we be threatening the billions of dollars that millions of Americans have in stocks in these corporations?

What would the result of those losses to 401K's, IRA's, etc. have on our economy?

Does anyone think that the Chinese haven't thought this out?

[Last Dakotan]

Stop now! or I'll criticize you!

[neutrino]

Excellent points, Raybbr.

We don't dare do anything that China doesn't like. They loan us money, they have acquired our manufacturing base, and with it our technology. We made the Dragon what it is today. How can we be surprised that it has grown so large?

We have cut our own throats, all under the banner of "lower prices to consumers!".

Make no mistake, the bill will come due, and it will be paid. Perhaps in sweat and tears, or perhaps in blood - but quite possibly in both.