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Title: China report urges missile shield
Source:
Washington Times
URL Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news ... ht-to-counter-beijing-buildup/
Published: Oct 1, 2008
Author: Bill Gertz
Post Date: 2008-10-01 22:56:07 by buckeye
Keywords: None
Views: 213
Comments: 15
[Non print version has hyperlinks]. EXCLUSIVE: The United States needs new weapon systems, including missile defenses and other advanced military capabilities, to deter and counter China's steady buildup of nuclear and conventional arms, according to a draft internal report by a State Department advisory board. U.S. defense policy has stressed missile defenses against Iran and North Korea. The report, by the Secretary of State's International Security Advisory Board (ISAB), is the first to recommend such defenses against China, including technology in space. The draft, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times, said Chinese strategy goes beyond building forces capable of retaking the island of Taiwan. China seeks to "break out" by projecting power beyond its region including sea lanes that carry energy resources for its modernization, the document said. "Using superior U.S. military technical capacities, the United States should undertake the development of new weapons, sensors, communications, and other programs and tactics to convince China that it will not be able to overcome the U.S. militarily," the report said. • Read the report by the ISAB Task Force on China's Strategic Modernization (downloads PDF) The draft report presents a tough assessment of Chinese strategic modernization that goes beyond many current government and private-sector analyses that say that China's military modernization does not pose a major challenge to U.S. security interests. For example, in an interview with The Washington Times in March, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden expressed professional "admiration" for China's rapid and sophisticated buildup and said it is "not inevitable that they will be an enemy." The report said that to reduce the chance of a miscalculation by China that could lead to a crisis or conflict, the United States "must take seriously China's challenge to U.S. military superiority in the Asia-Pacific region. ... China's military modernization is proceeding at a rate ... to be of concern even with the most benign interpretation of China's motivation." Chinese Embassy spokesman Wang Baodong said in a statement that China is "naturally becoming stronger and more influential in world affairs" after 30 years of reform, but remains committed to peaceful development and a "foreign policy of peace." "China will not harm anyone or pose a threat to anyone. China's development is opportunity, not threat. Any versions of China threat will continue to be proved fallacious," he said. Mr. Wang also said his government is "committed to the peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question and the peaceful reunification" of the island with the mainland. The draft by the 17-member advisory board has not been officially released. A State Department official familiar with the report said it is in the late stages and could be completed in the next several weeks. The official said the report's stark assessment of China's strategy and forces was in line with the board's mandate to provide frank advice to the secretary of state from analysts outside government. Brandon A. Buttrick, the ISAB executive director, said his office did not know when members would complete their review. "If the report is an unclassified report, it will be made available for public distribution as we have done with the previous ISAB reports when they are approved by the ISAB," he said. The board is headed by former Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz. The task force that produced the report was led by Robert Joseph, a former undersecretary of state and specialist on nonproliferation. The task force included former Sen. Charles S. Robb, Virginia Democrat; Allison B. Fortier, a vice president for missile defense at Lockheed Martin; and William Van Cleave, emeritus professor for defense and security studies at Missouri State University. Mr. Robb said he initially took part but dropped out because of time constraints "notwithstanding my interest in the topic." He declined to comment further. • Read the report by the ISAB Task Force on China's Strategic Modernization (downloads PDF) Mr. Wolfowitz declined to be interviewed. Once the Bush administration's chief theorist on the war on terror and a major policymaker on the invasion of Iraq, Mr. Wolfowitz previously held numerous senior posts dealing with Asian affairs at both the State Department and Pentagon. He stepped down as World Bank president amid ethics inquiries in June. The draft report said China's "major objective is to counter U.S. presence and U.S. military capabilities in East Asia through the acquisition of offensive capacities in critical functional areas that systematically exploit U.S. vulnerabilities." It said the buildup involves capabilities for "asymmetric warfare," such as space and computer weapons, that could help Chinese forces defeat a stronger U.S. military. Among the areas of U.S. strategic vulnerability identified in the report are gaps in U.S. missile defenses; dependence on space for communications; the U.S. inability to use force against China except through aircraft carrier groups; and "fragile electronics and the Internet." The report recommends that the United States acquire new offensive space and cyber warfare capabilities and missile defenses as well as "more robust sea- and space-based capabilities" to deter any crisis over Taiwan. China currently has about 20 missiles capable of reaching the United States but is projected to have more than 100 nuclear missiles, some likely with multiple warheads, by 2015, the report said. Among the key findings: • Continued rapid economic growth of 10 percent a year is "vital" for China to continue to compete with the United States and achieve its main goals of regime survival and regional dominance. • China's industrial and defense espionage is aimed at obtaining advanced technology for economic and military modernization. • The scale, scope and speed of China's rise fundamentally impacts U.S. national security, yet the U.S. "possesses only a limited understanding of Chinese intentions, and how Beijing's economic and military expansion affects these interests." • China's military and civilian leaders are not always on the same page and that separation is a potential "focal point" for mitigating hostility. China's civilian leaders understand Americans but the Chinese military suffers from "clear paranoia and misperceptions" about U.S. intentions. • To avoid an "emerging creep" by China toward strategic nuclear coercion, "the United States will need to pursue new missile defense capabilities, including taking full advantage of space," the report said. On China's expansion after centuries as a regional power, the ISAB report stated that: "In China's view, Taiwan is the key to breakout: If China is to become a global power, the first step must include control of this island." Taking over the island would allow China to control the seas near its coasts and to project power eastward, the report said. China views Taiwan, where nationalist forces fled from the mainland in 1949, as central to "the legitimacy of the regime and key to power projection," the report said. Taiwan also is seen by China as a way to deny the United States a key ally in "a highly strategic location" of the western Pacific, the report said. Chinese authorities have said they desire peaceful reunification with Taiwan but will not allow it to declare formal independence and have not ruled out the use of force. The advisory panel report also recommended that the U.S. increase sales of advanced conventional forces to allies in Asia and improve counterintelligence efforts. Larry M. Wortzel, chairman of the congressional U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said he has not seen the report but that blocking Taiwan independence and gaining control of the island "is one of the highest priorities set for the People's Liberation Army by the Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee and the Central Military Commission." "If China accomplishes this, its military can concentrate on missions to expand China's presence, influence, and even control, in wider areas of the Asia-Pacific region," he said. Mr. Wang, the Chinese Embassy spokesman, said China's budget for 2007 was $45 billion, or 1.4 percent of gross domestic product. He said this year's defense budget is $57.2 billion, an increase of 17.6 percent. The United States spends about 4 percent of GDP on defense, according to the CIA World Factbook. However, the Pentagon's latest annual report on China's military stated that China's military spending figures do not include spending on China's space program, strategic forces, foreign acquisitions, military-related research and development and paramilitary forces.
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#1. To: richard9151, Cynicom (#0)
See also.
And see also.
Great post, we should be ever mindful that communist china wants to conquer the U.S.A. by any means (militarily, economically) because our very existence is a threat to their political domination of their people. Bill Gertz wrote an excellent book, The China Threat, which should be on everybody's short list of books to read. Also, read Lev Navrozov's series of columns on the threat from Communist China: I was wondering if anyone would tie those two stories together. And those two and this one make a comprehensive picture out of what is happening in Asia. The loser? Well, it probably will not be China. Particularly if China quits funding United States debt.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. ++++++++++ Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
And just think: five years ago, China was willing to loan us money and sell us all the products we wanted to make there. Maybe it wasn't altruistic, but improved relations could have resulted without Bush in office.
I see that the real threat is our government. A sound government could work effectively to neutralize a threatening China with diplomacy, economic excellence, cultural exchange, intelligence, and cunning. An unsound government, hell bent on maintaining its kleptocracy, actually evokes the anger of a country like China. My opinions take into consideration the fact that China is interested in global empire building. We play into their hands with our bad deeds.
We have been preparing for war with China for a long time. It has been going on for quite some time. Likewise they are doing the same.
Hence, an unsound government that allowed Bubba Clinton to slip our best technology to communist china on the sly without any congressional investigation.
The only thing that gives it any weight of inevitability is the evil of our government, and theirs (but that's out of our control).
If you read the Cox report, you'll see that it was a bipartisan problem.
What is odd is that this originated with the State Dept.
By funding their military buildup through trade and offshoring jobs. passing this along: Lords of War Department http://urbansurvival.com/week.htm I'm not sure what the definition of insanity is, so let's put this into perspective. during the Cold War, the world built enough warheads to blow up the whole planet maybe three or four times over, dig? OK, then along came a few highly controlled tests of missile defense systems and "Presto!" we have the thermonuclear equivalent of a Kevlar vest with a chest plate. But, let me ask you this: How much money do you think we oughta pour down that rat hole - or how much would it take - before you would be comfortable living in the target city while some multi-megaton warhead is thrown at your family. Trust this high tech missile Kevlar that much? Of well, WTF. If the Banksters don't get it, the %-pointed building will...some things never change. Which is why archeologists find green sand of ancient antiquity - seems we're all just repeating an old play...
I read once that they feel that this continent belongs to them anyway. They need the land mass and resources for their 'own' race.
We (the sheep) are sleep walking towards the next world war.
And as many as needed to reach the correct balance of a fully controllable population. (That will still smugly blame the wrong thing) "The technotronic era involves the gradual appearance of a more controlled society. Such a society would be dominated by an elite, unrestrained by traditional values. Soon it will be possible to assert almost continuous surveillance over every citizen and maintain up-to-date complete files containing even the most personal information about the citizen. These files will be subject to instantaneous retrieval by the authorities." - Zbigniew Brzezinski.
General wants help in Afghanistan now
Post Date: 2008-10-01 10:32:05 by richard9151
1 Comments
By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer 12 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The top American military commander in Afghanistan said Wednesday that he needs more troops and other aid "as quickly as possible" in a counterinsurgency battle that could get worse before it gets better. Gen. David McKiernan said it's not just a question of troops — but more economic aid and more political aid as well. Speaking to Pentagon reporters, the head of NATO forces in Afghanistan said there has been a significant increase in foreign fighters coming in from neighboring Pakistan this year — including Chechens, Uzbeks, Saudis and Europeans. "The additional military capabilities ...
#2. To: All (#1)
US losing war in Afghanistan, Pak tribal region: former army chief
Post Date: 2008-10-01 22:13:34 by richard9151
0 Comments
Former Pakistani Army chief General `Retd` Mirza Aslam Beg on Tuesday said that US has almost lost its war in Afghanistan and Pakistani tribal region and soon will leave with empty hands. Talking exclusively he said that it has become very difficult for US to sustain the pressure of local armed groups who have been giving tough time to the US-led forces in Afghanistan and Pakistani tribal area. Beg was Pakistan's Army chief of staff between 1988 and 1991 and now heads a research center. General Beg contended that a conspiracy is being hatched to destabilize Pakistan and in which the former Pakistani rulers were equally responsible. "Our own soil is being used against our ...
#3. To: buckeye (#0)
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#4. To: buckeye (#2)
#5. To: richard9151 (#4)
#6. To: X-15 (#3)
Bill Gertz wrote an excellent book, The China Threat, which should be on everybody's short list of books to read.
#7. To: buckeye (#6)
#8. To: buckeye (#6)
A sound government could work effectively to neutralize a threatening China
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#9. To: Cynicom (#7)
#10. To: X-15 (#8)
#11. To: buckeye (#0)
#12. To: Cynicom (#7)
We have been preparing for war with China for a long time
We notice today that a new State Department brief on "China report urges missile shield".
#13. To: X-15 (#3)
Great post, we should be ever mindful that communist china wants to conquer the U.S.A.
#14. To: nikki (#12)
#15. To: Cynicom (#14)
We (the sheep) are sleep walking towards the next world war.
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