|
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
Chinese Military Expansion Charles R. Smith PLA Growth Alters Military Balance The U.S. Defense Department has issued its annual report on China. The report, titled "Military Power of the People's Republic of China," contains disturbing new facts about the rapid growth of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). According to the report, "Several aspects of China's military development have surprised U.S. analysts, including the pace and scope of its strategic forces modernization. China's military expansion is already such as to alter regional military balances." "Long-term trends in China's strategic nuclear forces modernization, land- and sea-based access denial capabilities, and emerging precision-strike weapons have the potential to pose credible threats to modern militaries operating in the region," stated the U.S. report. The Pentagon reported that China is continuing its ballistic-missile buildup aimed at a force of over 1,000 missiles by 2008. During 2005, China deployed nearly 800 mobile DF-11 and DF-15 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) to bases opposite Taiwan. "SRBM deployment continues to expand at an average rate of about 100 missiles per year. Newer versions feature improved range and accuracy," noted the U.S. report. China is also modernizing its long-range ballistic missile force by replacing older missiles with newer, more survivable ones. China is deploying a new road-mobile solid-propellant intercontinental range ballistic missile (ICBM), the DF-31, and an extended-range version called the DF-31A, which can target most of the United States. Story Continues Below
Nuke America The U.S. Defense Department took note that Chinese officials have recently threatened nuclear strikes against America. In July 2005, speaking about U.S. intervention in a confrontation between Taiwan and China, Major General Zhu Chenghu, from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) National Defense University, stated to the press: "If the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition [sic] on to the target zone on China's territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons." "This is not the first time Zhu, or others, have threatened the United States with nuclear strikes in the context of conflict over Taiwan," noted the report. In 1996, Chinese General Xiong Guangkai made a direct threat to the press, vowing to unleash nuclear strikes against Los Angeles during any conflict over Taiwan. Unlike General Zhu, who was publicly reprimanded for his comments, General Xiong was promoted to second-in-command of the PLA. The threat to America and her allies does not end with nuclear-tipped missiles. China is in the process of expanding her navy, including activity aimed at acquiring an aircraft carrier. Chinese Aircraft Carrier According to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), China plans to organize a combat air wing for a future aircraft carrier. The Chinese navy is already evaluating the Russian Su-33/FLANKER D, a carrier-capable variant of the Su-27/FLANKER. Russia currently uses the Su-33 aboard its single Kuznetzov-class aircraft carrier. However, China also owns a Kuznetzov carrier. The former Varyag has been tied up in a Chinese shipyard at Dailan since 2002, when it was purchased as a floating casino. Now, according to the U.S. Defense Department, the Chinese appear to be doing some kind of work on the Varyag. "The only visible signs of this work are a new paint job (in the gray shade used by the Chinese navy) and ongoing work on the superstructure (particularly the tall "island" on the flight deck). Many workers can be seen on the ship, and material is seen going into (new stuff) and out of (old stuff) the ship," noted StrategyPage.com, a military watchdog website. In a further sign of upcoming conflict, the Chinese navy has increased amphibious ship production to address its sealift deficiencies. The PLA has also increased its civilian merchant fleet, which could provide additional over-the-beach lift for future amphibious operations. Chinese Espionage The report also noted that China continues to acquire key war-fighting technologies by stealing them in the dark of night. "Industrial espionage in foreign research and production facilities and illegal transfers of technology are used to gain desired capabilities. Where technology targets remain difficult to acquire, foreign investors are attracted to China via contracts that are often written to ensure Chinese oversight, with the eventual goal of displacing foreigners from the companies brought into China," noted the Defense Department. In fact, there is no shortage of prosecutions inside the United States for illegal transfers of military technology to China. The Bush administration has recently sanctioned Data Physics Corporation and its Beijing and Shanghai offices for illegal transfers of military-grade technology to an end-user in China who is engaged in the design, development, production and use of cruise missile systems. "Specifically, the evidence shows that, on or about June 12, 2002, Respondents sold and later shipped spherical couplings, items subject to the EAR, from the United States to China HaiYang Electro Mechanical Technology Academy ("3rd Academy") in China, an end-user involved in the development of cruise missiles," noted the official release from the Bureau of Industrial Security (BIS). "The evidence shows that Data Physics attempted to conceal the identity of the end-user by using a false customer name '27th Locomotive Factory.' Data Physics would also attempt to evade the licensing requirements by breaking down the items into smaller components and separate shipments in order to avoid raising suspicion. Installation reports seized from Data Physics show that after the items would arrive at the 3rd Academy, employees from the Chinese offices of Data Physics would go reassemble and install the equipment," noted the BIS report. The Defense Department report is reinforced by the facts as demonstrated by Chinese espionage operations such as the Data Physics case. The PLA has over 3,000 such companies operating inside the U.S. today. It is a fact that China will continue to use illegal means to obtain American weapons technology. Simply shutting down a single company will do little or nothing to prevent such high-tech losses. The Bush administration needs to shut down ALL of the Chinese army firms operating in America.
Editor's note: Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Print Page 
Forward Page 
|
| All Rights Reserved © 2012 NewsMax.Com |