US unnerved by Chinese naval build-up
Pastor Dale Morgan
US unnerved by Chinese naval build-up*
By Richard Spencer in Beijing
Last Updated: 2:03am GMT 08/03/2007
The Chinese navy could have its first aircraft carrier as soon as 2010,
according to reports which will add to Pentagon concerns about the
country's military expansion.
The claim, made in the Government-backed Wen Wei Po newspaper, will
alarm Pentagon hawks who fear China wants to mount a challenge to
American dominance of the Pacific.
China's intent to add an aircraft carrier to its navy comes in the wake
of its recent military budget, which revealed annual spending would rise
by 17.8 per cent, the highest rate for five years.
The build-up has come under attack in Washington, in particular for the
secretive manner in which China has gone about it.
The deputy secretary of state, John Negroponte said Washington was
"dissatisfied" with the level of transparency in Chinese military planning.
The Pentagon's greatest concerns remain entwined with Chinese historic
threats to retake Taiwan by force. Particulalry as China's naval
development is also being matched in other military spheres.
Recently it unveiled its new, self-built J-10 fighter aircraft. And, in
addition, about 15 per cent of the nation's 2.3 million-strong army have
been expressly selected as an elite force capable of "taking the fight
to the enemy". What is more, it possesses increasingly sophisticated
long-range nuclear missiles, now capable of hitting American cities.
The test-firing of a missile in January is thought by military experts
to be part of a strategy to develop an "asymmetric" balance in response
to overwhelming American power.
"You don't try to put up as many satellites as the US, you try to negate
the usefulness of those they have," said Robert Karniol, Asia editor of
Jane's Defence, the military affairs magazine. "It's cheaper, and the
Chinese learned the lesson of the bankruptcy of the former Soviet Union."
However, Chinese officials point out that their military spending is
"commensurate" with the size of their economy, and that it remains
dwarfed by that of the US. A Chinese vice-admiral quoted by Wen Wei Po,
said: "This is China's own business. Exaggerations of the so-called
'China threat' are just spin and malice."
China's military push
Army
Transferred internal security to the People's Armed Police, allowing
training to focus on military objectives. Developing an elite force of
around 250,000 men.
Navy
Introduced two self-developed guided missile destroyer classes, Russian
Sovremenny-class destroyers, Russian Kilo-class and its own Yuan-class
diesel submarines and a self-developed nuclear-powered submarine.
Air force
In a blaze of publicity, the PLA showed off its J10 multi-role fighter
aircraft in December, though it is believed to have been first deployed
two years ago.