Posted on 05/24/2006 12:47:23 AM PDT by familyop
A new report by the U.S. Defense Department says China is continuing to increase its military capabilities in ways that have already altered the regional military balance and is causing concern about China's future intentions. The annual report is required by Congress.
The report says China is increasing its force of short range ballistic missiles that could attack Taiwan and other regional targets, and looking to buy or develop more advanced and capable aircraft and ships. The report says China is also increasing its high-technology ability to disrupt other countries' access to communications, computer networks and other services essential to modern defense, and society as a whole.
Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter Rodman says China appears to be preparing to project its military power beyond its immediate surroundings. "There are indications that they are thinking more broadly and at the very beginnings, perhaps, of developing power projection for other contingencies other than Taiwan," he said.
The report says such contingencies could involve conflicts over territory or resources. Last year's report on China came to a similar conclusion. But this year, the report adds that U.S. analysts have been 'surprised' by 'the pace and scope' of the modernization of China's strategic forces. And Rodman says Chinese officials are also discussing possible revisions in their defense doctrines, including their pledge not to be the first to use nuclear weapons in any conflict.
"What is interesting to us is the fact that there seems to be a debate going on there. As their capabilities improve it is possible to speculate that they may be looking at other options," he said.
Rodman says the United States accepts Chinese assurances that the 'no first use' doctrine is still in effect, but his concern on nuclear doctrine and China's growing military capability is for the future. "Certainly they have limitations now. We don't exaggerate their capability. And they, too, seem realistic about their capability. But they seem to have a very patient strategy of investment, planning, just growing over time. And five years from now, ten years from now, they can expect that maybe the balance of forces will be different than it is now," he said.
The assistant defense secretary says U.S. concerns are heightened because, although it has made some progress toward more openness, China continues to provide very limited information on its military programs and intentions, at a time when its military spending is increasing rapidly.
China analyst Daniel Blumenthal at the American Enterprise Institute, who used to handle China issues at the defense department, says U.S. policy has been to 'go slow' with China, and try to convince its leaders to use their growing power constructively. He supports that for now, but he says a more active U.S. response in terms of increasing its own military capabilities may be needed in the future. "At this point, I think we still need to push them into areas where we might gain cooperation, but I think that you also have to know when to say that that's not working, and be prepared to really balance against this military expansion," he said.
The U.S. government report says China continues to pursue an approach articulated by the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, an approach that includes quiet development and hiding the country's true military capacity. Assistant Secretary Rodman says U.S. policy-makers keep that very much in mind. "It should be obvious from this report that we're watching pretty carefully and we know what we're dealing with," he said.
China strongly criticized last year's U.S. Defense Department report on its military. U.S. officials defended that report, saying it was factual and not inflammatory. This year, they say that while there is continuing cause for concern, there are only incremental changes to report.
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1637328/posts
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1637298/posts
The USA under Clinton helped greatly. Go ahead, dumbasses put Hillary back in.
I am just wondering. Is there any country out there that could invade us. like tomorrow could china just decide to invade the United States of America?
Is there anywhere I can go on the internet to see a listing of the power of each country. I would like to know how many transport ships China has. Does china have a carrier.
Its just that I always here on the news about how a country is just now starting to develop a technology that we americans have had for years.
Many of the documents used in the report were found in the archives of the Federation of American Scientists (www.fas.org). While FAS is typically considered a left-leaning organization, they capture and archive a lot of the reports provided to Congress from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) and General Accounting Office (GAO). They also retain reports on International Nuclear threat assessments.
Start there. Get back to me if you need more info.
China does have quite a few nuclear missiles (some of them mobiles) that can reach cities on our coasts and into our northwest and is developing some that will reach further.
Also, follow the links in the little red boxes on Jeff Head's page. He's done a some research on the PLA Navy.
http://www.jeffhead.com/redseadragon/index.htm
Google.cn is the Chinese version of their "we are evil" search engine. As chicom callaborators, they may have the skinny. Just go to Mountainview and knock.
Keep shopping at wal-mart folks, China needs the money.
china has given Taiwan an Ultimatum to turn control over or face being taken over. Taiwan must decide this by 2012 or they will be attacked, if Taiwan agrees they have a few more years before being taken much like what took place with Hong Kong.
Military isn't the only way to take a country.
I believe the most common way to take a country is to flood the country with people from the opposing country.
Also, let's not forget that augmented capabilites or not, China isn't ready to take on the USN.
The UK and France could do far more damage to the US than China.
Wouldn't fancy the pay back though
Perhaps you will be so kind as to provide a list of stores that sell American made products only, thereby enabling me and others to choke off the blood supply of the Chinese dragon?
Hate to say it but China is the oldest civilization and will be around long after we are gone.
This is a very serious statement from a high government official.
Considering how often the word "surprising" is applied by the analysts who study Red China's military progress, well, I wouldn't expect anything except sharp revisions downward on those time scales.
I think that we should cease all normal trade relations with the PRC. I don't know how much effect that will have at this late juncture, but I believe that we are still the largest source of their profits. It's foolish of us to continue to build up the world's largest totalitarian state.
More on yesterday's discussion.
This is not very good news..
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