Posted on 02/01/2007 9:32:39 PM PST by GulfBreeze
WASHINGTON: China's test of an anti-satellite weapon last month underscores US frustration in efforts to forge reliable communications with the secretive Chinese military, a senior Pentagon official said on Thursday.
Richard Lawless, deputy assistant secretary of defence for Asian and Pacific security affairs, said the missile launch that destroyed an ageing Chinese weather satellite was a "quite unpleasant development" after years of US efforts to boost dialogue with China's military leaders.
"The fact that the ASAT test took place in the absence of a strong dialogue is all the more concerning," he told the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a body that advises the US Congress on policy.
On January 11, China used a ground-based ballistic missile to knock out the satellite about 865km above Earth, scattering dangerous debris that could damage other satellites for years.
The Pentagon's key concern, Lawless said, was to push for greater information sharing as China applies its fast economic growth and expanding industrial and research prowess to an "impressive full-court press" in a major military modernisation.
"I can't think of a situation in which we are more challenged in more dimensions," he told the panel.
Despite some exchanges and US efforts to draw the Chinese military into sustained strategic dialogue, "We simply do not have enough visibility into why they make the decisions they make," said Lawless, who has been a key player in bilateral military relations.
US lawmakers have reacted with alarm to the Chinese anti-satellite test and called for improved space defences.
On Wednesday, Republican Congressmen Duncan Hunter of California, a possible Republican presidential candidate, and Terry Everett of Alabama wrote a letter urging President George W Bush urging to prepare for a "new era of military competition in space."
"American war-fighting capability relies heavily on US space assets and we must take whatever steps necessary to ensure our forces cannot be targeted through an adversarial space strike," the letter said.
Duncan Hunter fans need to make sure they vote in the Free Republic poll at http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/poll?poll=170 and visit the www.GoHunter08.com webite frequently. Sign up the first time and donate a few bucks every time...
I'm so glad we gave the ChiComs most favored nation status.
Since this is my first exposure to Duncan Hunter I have to laugh. United States is playing the game with China when both sides know full well why the Chinese did what they did. It's got nothing to do with space junk and Hunter knows it. He passes the politician test.
When did Hunter say it had to do with space junk?
Everett's a great guy, but Good Lord, the man is 70 years old this month!
When did I say it did? Matter of fact, my post says it doesn't.
PING - Please ping this one too, Antoninus
It's got nothing to do with space junk and Hunter knows it.
Maybe I am misreading your post. I just did not understand the comment.
As god is my witness I will never understand what makes these bureaucrats think an antagonist like the Chinese military will ever "dialogue" about anything important.
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