Friday 26 April 2013

CHINA’S MILITARY MODERNIZATION

The Indian Express

CHINA INTENDS TO LIMIT US OPERATIONS IN WEST PACIFIC: PENTAGON

PTI

The Indian Express, April 26 2013

Washington: Expressing concerns over the pace at which China is increasing its defence budget and rapidly modernising its armed forces, the Pentagon has said that the aim of the regional hegemony is to limit US's ability to operate in Western Pacific.

"The concern that we have is the pace of this military expenditure as well as the scope of the investments. China's investing in a comprehensive modernisation of its military," David Helvey, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for the East Asia Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, told Senators during a Congressional hearing.

Responding to questions, Helvey said China's defence budget now stands at USD 120 billion and has been growing at 10 per cent per annum for past two decades now.

"The challenge is that there is not a whole lot of transparency in terms of what China's military spending," he said.

The US, he said, is paying good attention to a number of capabilities that China is building now.

"China's investments in its nuclear and nuclear-capable forces is something that we're watching very carefully; investments in its undersea warfare capabilities, including submarines both nuclear-powered and conventionally diesel-powered submarines, as well as its long-range conventional precision strike weapons systems, both ballistic and cruise missiles," Helvey said.

"These are part and parcel of what we in the Department of Defence refer to as an anti-access and area denial type of strategy, which, if put into place and executed, could be intended to limit the ability of the United States or other militaries from operating in the Western Pacific," the top Pentagon official told lawmakers.

(...) [article here]

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The US has its carriers. China has to have anti shop missiles so that there wont be a replay of 1996.The US has got to realise though China i s weaker ,nevertheless it can give a painful rebuff to US attacks.
That is why the US is perturbed that for the first time,China unlike the past as in Korea won't let US planes free to roam the skies to attack with immunity.
The anti missile threat posed by NV is nothing compared to the one the PLA has assembled. Furthemore bases and US territory will be subject to Chinese retaliation something the US is not used to.
As improvements to China's defence
go on,the firepower of the PLA will be enhanced .Though not in the same league as US forces,the immense destruction posed would serve as a deterrent to US forces.

Anonymous said...

What would the US do if the PLA navy operates of California and with submarines lurking in the depths? They would do exactly as the Chinese ie build up the forces to counter them.
The Chinese aint goint to attack the US. It would be suicidal. It is rather to ensure the US will suffer inescapable and destruction to its assets were it to launch an unprovoked attack.
The US has a bad record of attacking defenceless countries. China will no doubt lose but it is to make sure it would be Vietnam multiplied by a thousand times.
This is what is making the pentagon uncomfortable.When the victim of abully can hit back,it will make the former flinch and pause.