WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. fears of a rising China are spurring billions of dollars worth of weapons projects, from nuclear-fueled attack submarines to fighter jets to destroyers.
Even as President George W. Bush prepares to welcome President Hu Jintao to the White House on Thursday with full military honors, Washington is factoring in potential conflicts over such sore spots as Taiwan, competition for scarce resources and any threat to its predominance in Asia.
"Of the major and emerging powers, China has the greatest potential to compete militarily with the United States and field disruptive military technologies that could over time offset traditional U.S. military advantages absent U.S. counter strategies," the U.S. Defense Department said in a long-term strategy review released in February.
The focus of the U.S. approach to China remains to prod it into playing a constructive regional role and to be a partner on security challenges from terrorism to curbing the spread of weapons, narcotics and piracy.
But in its long-range blueprint, the Pentagon laid out plans for "prudent hedges against the possibility that cooperative approaches by themselves may fail to preclude future conflict" with powers such as China.
Among China-related moves, the Pentagon said it would build -- two decades sooner than originally planned -- a "long-range strike capability" to be ready by 2018 while modernizing the U.S. bomber force of B-1s, B-2s and B-52s.
The new project could involve manned or unmanned bombers as well as directed-energy weapons such as lasers.
The U.S. Air Force has already begun to deploy the radar-evading, F-22A "Raptor" multirole fighter jet, designed to knock out advanced surface-to-air missiles and enemy fighters.
"Deterring or defending against potential aggression by the PRC is the strongest argument for the F-22A," said Christopher Bolkcom, the top warplane expert at the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, using initials for the People's Republic of China.
The Air Force hopes to buy at least 176 F-22As, which would be built through 2012 by Lockheed Martin Corp., the Pentagon's No. 1 supplier, at a projected $62.6 billion, including development costs. More than 50 have been delivered.
BIG SPENDING
Another big-ticket item that might be built in lesser numbers if not for the perceived China threat is the Virginia-class nuclear submarine. In its long-range blueprint, the Pentagon called for doubling to two per year the number bought by the Navy by 2012 at a cost of $2 billion apiece.
The submarines are built by General Dynamics Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp..
The same companies are building the Navy's next-generation DD(X), a destroyer designed to appear on enemy radar screens as no bigger than a small fishing boat.
The first two DD(X) destroyers, which can attack land targets with precision weapons and new long-range guns, are to be purchased in fiscal 2007 at a combined cost of $6.6 billion. The Bush administration is planning to buy seven of them as part of a projected 313-ship Navy in the coming years.
"The fleet will have greater presence in the Pacific Ocean, consistent with the global shift of trade and transport," the Pentagon said in its strategy paper. It said 60 percent of U.S. submarines would be based there, up from 50 percent now, and at least six aircraft carriers, up from five now.
Peter Rodman, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, said last month that China's military buildup was forcing the United States to revise plans for any showdown over Taiwan -- the U.S.-armed, self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own.
Roger Cliff of the RAND Corporation, a not-for-profit company that conducts many studies for the Pentagon, said China was turning out weapons comparable in capability to the systems that still make up the bulk of those used by U.S. forces.
"If the United States is to keep its qualitative military advantage over China, therefore, we will need to continue to develop and field systems that are significantly more advanced than the types currently in our inventory," he said.
China tries to play tough on Taiwan, but I think they realize the cost would be too high to actually attack/invade it, both from Taiwan's own defenses as well as our assistance. And even if they succeeded, what would they have? A burned out husk of an island? That's not what they want. They may seem "crazy" sometimes, but I think that is a bargaining tactic and just a bravado, knowing we won't affirmatively call them on it (i.e., pre-emptive strike).
Who and where do you think some of our top secret military products are machined, made, etc.. Yup, private US companies that have moved their operations to China to save money. Pretty scary..
Who and where do you think some of our top secret military products are machined, made, etc.. Yup, private US companies that have moved their operations to China to save money. Pretty scary..
G
No way. there are laws mandating the location of manufacture for US Defense products. China is one of the restricted countries when it comes to manufacturing US Defense components, weapons systems or vessels. There is NO part of any US Defense contract manufactured in China. If there are foreign manufactured components they comprise less than 51% all the compoents in the overall completed product (at a maximum with some projects having much smaller allowed maximums set forth by congress, or specific purchasing military branch). The main country that usually has a larger portion in manufacturing US defense products is the UK...and they cant exceed 49% either.
But while China, and the rest of them that are not allowed, you can bet their version of the CIA will be doing what ever is needed to get the info on how it works.
But while China, and the rest of them that are not allowed, you can bet their version of the CIA will be doing what ever is needed to get the info on how it works.
Im not so sure. In the post 911 environment, Security Clearance is much harder to get than even during the Cold War era. The real number of espionage cases with the USSR during the cold was was also pretty minimal.
Agreed, but you can bet you will see more attempts. China, et al, don't really follow the Russian MAD theory as well. Granted they may have a large army, their Navy sucks or has limited ability.
China's Navy is def trying to modernize. New quiet deisel electric boats, high speed torpedos, SU-27's, and more nuclear submarines. Their operational goal seems to me, is to take out a US carrier. With 6000 men and women on board, that is a scary thought...
The history of the Chinese navy has always been to be a brown water, not blue.
Even with these advancements, there is still the 'fear' of the unknown that runs rampant in the Chinese navy anytime they venture beyond the sight of land.
Another thing War has completely changed! The Chinese army is huge, but for a war they would have to get over here! We have satellites now that we can see people laying naked on beaches from space! So I feel China is definately a power but with alot of talk about how we will be at war with them within so many years is far fetched to me! By the time this will happen their ship will start heading our way and we will be able to melt them with our death ray!
whitebeard, don't you think they have change their focus over the last 3-5 years to build an blue water navy? I don't know what happend, but I thought they were going to try and by the old Soviet carrier, Kremlin?
I assume that fell through, since they seem to be trying to buy Kilo's only for their coastal defense and attack capabilities.
Yes, some of the older Russian attack sub have been sold to the Chinese Navy.
But most are used as coastal defense weapons systems, there are two that I know about that are in the pipe, but with 4-5 years to build, athen abother one to two for shakedown, and upgrades they are not expected on-line till 2007.
This is from one of the naval sources I use....
"
In recent years, the PLAN's maritime mission has evolved from a role of static coastal defence to one of “active offshore defence”. In this capacity, the PLAN can be used both as a tactical force and to support strategic national defence. The objectives of this new strategy are to assert China's role as a regional maritime power, to protect coastal economic regions and maritime interests, and to optimise the Navy's operations for national defence. The PLAN's responsibilities now include capture and defence of islands, and protection and blockade of sea-lanes of communication. Moreover, the PLAN is increasingly viewed by senior PLA leadership as integral to resolution of the Taiwan issue -- should force be required -- and for safeguarding China's Xisha and Nansha Islands in the South China Sea. Finally, the PLAN is likely to be increasingly used as an instrument of overseas diplomacy through participation in goodwill cruises and port visits.
The PLAN's evolving strategy has been described in terms of two distinct phases. The strategy's first phase is for the PLAN to develop a "green water active defence strategy" capability. This "green water" generally is described as being encompassed within an arc swung from Vladivostok to the north, to the Strait of Malacca to the south, and out to the "first island chain" (Aleutians, Kuriles, Ryukyus, Taiwan, Philippines, and Greater Sunda islands) to the east. Analysts have assessed that the PLAN is likely to attain this green water capability early in the 21st century. Open-source writings also suggest that the PLAN intends to develop a capability to operate in the "second island chain" (Bonins, Guam, Marianas, and Palau islands) by the mid-21st century. In the future, the PLAN also may expand its operations to bases in Myanmar, Burma. These bases will provide the PLAN with direct access to the Strait of Malacca and the Bay of Bengal."
As far as an aircraft carrier
or many years it has been widely speculated that the PLA Navy (PLAN) is interested in building or acquiring an aircraft carrier to improve its power projection capabilities. Although the PLAN is known to have been studying the aircraft carrier building technology and operational principles since the mid-1980s, no concrete evidence had been found proving the existence of such a building programme until recently when the Kuznetzov-class carrier Varyag, obtained by the PLAN from Ukraine in 2002, emerged from a Dalian Shipyard dry dock painted in PLAN grey.
The first Project 956EM Sovremenny class destroyers was launched in April 2004, followed by the second hull in July the same year. However, the second ship, which was schedule to be delivered in early 2006, was caught in a fire accident on 27 April 2005. The hull was damaged by the fire, though the Russian shipbuilder was confident that this wouldn’t affect the ship’s quality. As a result, the delivery of the second Sovremenny class destroyer is now postponed and its new delivery date cannot be confirmed.
China has been investing heavily since the 1990s to build a ‘blue water’ naval force that can operate in the deep ocean. A number of very modern domestically-built surface combatants and submarines were commissioned in 2004. The delivery of these Russian-built warships will further enhance the PLA Navy’s capability to launch a large-scale amphibious assault in Taiwan as well as deterring the U.S. and Japanese naval forces from interfering in its operation.
Linear Mode
