Free Republic

The Rising Sea Dragon in Asia 2006 Update I have been keeping a major web site up regarding the growth of the Chinese NAvy for the last four years. This is the 2006 Update. Throughout 2005 and 2006 the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has continued its unprecedented modernization and buildup, working on and procuring twelve seperate classes of major combatants. Increasing numbers of new guided missile destroyers, guided missile frigates, fast attack craft, very modern and quiet diesel/electric attack submarines, nuclear attack submarines, nuclear ballistic missile submarines, logisitic support craft, amphibious assault craft, and the infrastructure and aircraft...

An unprecedented decision by the Bush administration to allow serving military officers to work at the United States' de facto embassy to Taiwan would "poison" ties between Beijing and Washington, China has charged. For the first time since the U.S. ended its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in favor of communist China almost 27 years ago, a serving military officer will shortly join the staff of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a quasi-official organization set up by Congress to fulfill the functions of an embassy in Taipei. Taiwanese media quoted AIT spokeswoman Nadine Saik as confirming that a U.S. Army...