Stratcom Signals PRC on Missile Defense

DoD Buzz ^ | 11/10/2009 | Colin Clark

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Posted in Intelligence, International, Policy, Space The man at the pointy end of the spear of missile defense and of nuclear weapons warned today that the US must carefully weigh any increase in missile defense — particularly on the west coast — to avoid triggering a “destabilizing” reaction by the Peoples Republic of China.

“We have to be cautious about missile defense…[which] can be destabilizing if you are not careful,” said Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, commander of Strategic Command and one of the military’s brightest brains. When the US places anti-ballistic missile assets on the West Coast, “What does it make the Chinese think…?” he asked. But the difficult calculus of deterrence includes other threats, Chilton made clear: “On the other hand, how do you deal with a North Korea?” Then he added Iran to the threat equation.

But his efforts at balance notwithstanding, Chilton was most passionate in his missile defense remarks about China, a fact noted by a military observer at this morning’s breakfast. In fact, they were the only remarks that elicited a clear emotional response from the general during more than an hour of delivering a speech and answering questions at this morning’s breakfast sponsored by the National Defense University Foundation.

Bear in mind that Chilton played host at the end of last month at a pretty extraordinary meeting with the head of China’s military, Gen. Xu Caihou, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission where they engaged in “frank dialogue.” In diplomatic lingo, such “frank” discussions are the closest thing one gets to bloodshed, indicating that difficult issues were addressed in some detail. It was impossible to find out after the breakfast whether Chilton’s comments arose from his talks with Gen. Xu but it seems a reasonable conclusion.

[Old Badger]

"warned today that the US must carefully weigh any increase in missile defense — particularly on the west coast — to avoid triggering a “destabilizing” reaction by the Peoples Republic of China.

I'm at a loss of words to think this was said by an American......... no less than an Air Force General. Don't offend anybody General when it involves protecting your country. Where's the Patton types when you need them? We're in deep, deep do do!

[ronnie raygun]

The cancer has now effected the military! I'm dizzy and nauseous

[Flintlock]

The incoherence of these idiots in uniform boggles the mind. Thus, DEFENSE causes aggression on behalf of the enemy.
Fire everybody Field Grade and above.
Start over with Captains.

[CPOSharky]

...Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, commander of Strategic Command and one of the military’s brightest brains.

We be in deep doodoo.

OOOH. OOOH, I know. Let's buy them another billion dollar airplane and remodel all the officer's clubs instead.

[arthurus]

If China would “react badly” to American missile defense what does that say about China’s long term strategy vis-a-vis the United States? And why should we cater to it?

[artaxerces]

I think the general is alluding to the simple fact that defensive missiles are far more costly than offensive missiles. It takes 3 expensive American ABMs to neutralize a single Cheap Chinese DF-31A

If our intentions are to defend against the handful of North Korean Missiles then the current ABMs on the West Coast will suffice. If we ratchet up those ABM numbers to counter the Chinese ICBM fleet, then they would ratchet up their numbers. This is a race that we can’t really win given current ABM technology and cost structures.