China's Growing Challenge To U.S.

Should we be diversifying our manufacturing operations to Latin American democracies that are fighting to stay independent from the onslaught of Hugo Chavez and his communization attempts instead of funding a known communist regime's goal of world domination? Does China really think that the Islamic Fascists pose no threat to their people, or does the ruling party simply not care about the masses?

From IBD:
Posted 5/25/2006

Defense: The Pentagon's annual report on Chinese military power reveals that Beijing will soon be as much of a threat to America's security as it is to Taiwan's. We may soon have more to worry about than cheap imports.

China's threat to Taiwan has been long-standing, growing and pretty much common knowledge, but the 2006 edition of the Pentagon's annual report to Congress, "Military Power of the People's Republic of China," makes it clear that China's ambitions and abilities go far beyond recovering what it considers its lost province.

The 58-page assessment notes that while China's current abilities are limited, the country has been on a technology buying and development binge, giving its armed forces the potential to compete with the U.S. by fielding "disruptive military technologies that could over time offset traditional U.S. military advantages."

China does not plan to match us tank for tank or microchip for microchip, but to deny us full use of our capabilities.

For example, for the first time the Pentagon report provides details on Beijing's active anti-satellite program.
The report notes, "At least one of the satellite attack systems appears to be a ground-based laser designed to damage or blind imaging satellites."

China also has plans to deal with America's aircraft carrier groups. The Chinese navy has deployed Sovremenny-class, guided-missile destroyers purchased from our "friends," the Russians.

The ships are equipped with SSN-22 Sunburns, supersonic cruise missiles that were designed by Soviet weapon makers for one purpose — to destroy U.S. aircraft carriers.

China has deployed a road-mobile, solid-propellant, intercontinental-range strategic missile, the DF-31, and is expected to field next year the extended range DF-31A, which can target most of the world, including the continental U.S.

China recently tested its JL-2, a submarine-launched version of the DF-31. It will be deployed aboard China's newest ballistic missile submarine, known as the Type 094. The JL-2 is equipped with multiple warheads and penetration aids that could reach the U.S. mainland from Chinese coastal waters.

China has taken exception to the Pentagon report, saying its moves are purely defensive. But at least some recent data would seem to belie that claim. In March, China's parliament approved a 14.7% increase in its official budget.

That's a lot for a country threatened by no one.

What the Chinese actually spend on their military, however, is shrouded in secrecy. They put the figure at a meager $27 billion.

The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) notes that China's purchases of Russian military hardware alone nearly exceed that amount. The IISS says China's defense budget is roughly $62.5 billion.

That money pays for the world's largest standing army and for the growing arsenal of sophisticated military equipment China hopes will turn it into an Asian superpower.

"China . . . is improving its ability to project power and developing advanced systems of military technology," Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's said to an Asian security conference in Singapore last June.

"Since no nation threatens China, one must wonder: Why this growing investment? Why these continuing large and expanding arms purchases? Why these continuing robust deployments?"

The question, of course, was rhetorical. China in fact is preparing to challenge our supremacy in the Western Pacific militarily while keeping us busy on the world stage, building alliances with the world's thugs and dictators, and locking up energy resources, guaranteeing a steady supply for its rapidly growing military-industrial complex.

There will probably be no major overt moves before the 2008 Olympic Games. That will give China time to continue its military buildup.

But the time may be actually coming when, as a Chinese general once threatened, we will be forced to decide whether we are really willing to trade Los Angeles for Taipei.