China Rapidly Expands Military Capability

Honolulu Advertiser (email newsletter) ^ | February 6, 2005 | By Richard Halloran

[Calpernia]

ping

[Puddleglum]

Capitalism + Totalitarianism - 5 Year Plans = China

[GOP_1900AD]

All of the sudden, one day this past November, they unveiled a missile that looked to have been codeveloped along with the Russian SS-X-26 Iskander. Given all the joint development the PRC already do with engineers in other countries, in the commercial realm, I cannot discount the possibility that the same thing is happening in the miltary realm. Of particular note - consider how such a development model, coupled with PRC serial production, might be used by the Russians to circumvent the INF. Students of history will recognize this trick, which has been used quite successfully before.

[BroncosFan]

The Rummy quote pops into my mind with every one of these articles: "We don't know what we don't know." The PRC is a big place. The military budget numbers they publish are a joke. And we are "looking" elsewhere with a lot of our assets right now.

[RetiredArmy]

One of these days, Red China is going to attack and invade Taiwan. Thousands will die. The UN will whine and complain. No one will be able to do a damned thing about it. We will all sit on our hands and watch a free country, a free people, be overwhelmed by the huge PLA and kill thousands. We have no ability short of nukes to stop it. We will not use nukes. One day, maybe soon, Red China is going to attack. Taiwan, no matter how hard they fight, will die. They will be overcome, and ruled by the communists.

[dgallo51]

Anyone read about… the ongoing investigation by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) that's revealed officials of the SBU, along with high-ranking members of the Ukrainian military and the state arms-sales company UkrSpetzExport, sold at least six cruise missiles each to Iran and China back in 2002? I understand they are capable of long range nuke air to ground delivery. Cool, eh?

[doggieboy]

After a huge fight and big losses China takes over what is left of Taiwan. You Army guys always forget about the Navy. We'll blockade their sorry ass.

[johnd01]

If the navy blockades Taiwan after a China invasion, they leave themselves with a lot of ships getting shot at from both sides of a very small body of water. Nothing would be more demoralizing than losing 2 carriers and 11,000 sailors in a week.

[Lowell]

This is no joke, we have got to keep our eye on the Middle East but China WILL invade Taiwan and threaten the world with war.

[Dat Mon]

Don't mind me...if I post for the umpteenth time my belief that China is moving towards a new...or perhaps reinvented society...a 'neo-feudal' society.

This is a society which is a perfect combination of communism, fascism, and crony capitalism, all underwritten by a hyper-strong military, and with long range desire for empire.

[dgallo51]

And then there's Bill Gertz's article revealing ChiComs converting Boeing aircraft with special radar domes to monitor missile tests. Not that's hot!

[snowsislander]

One of these days, Red China is going to attack and invade Taiwan. Thousands will die. The UN will whine and complain. No one will be able to do a damned thing about it. We will all sit on our hands and watch a free country, a free people, be overwhelmed by the huge PLA and kill thousands. We have no ability short of nukes to stop it. We will not use nukes. One day, maybe soon, Red China is going to attack. Taiwan, no matter how hard they fight, will die. They will be overcome, and ruled by the communists.

Yes, that's the way it's shaping up. I want to be an optimist on this one, but it is perhaps the one place in the world that I feel most pessimistic.

I think we are going to settle Iran's hash here soon; Afghanistan and Iraq have had free elections; even Kim Jong-il's rule may be becoming a bit rocky (though I don't discount disinformation on the part of the North Koreans, especially after we just caught 15 on our southern border.)

But Taiwan I feel is going to be abandoned. I have seen a few things from the U.S. and Japan that are encouraging, but the public statements from Mr. Armitage and Mr. Powell were not strategic ambiguity in my opinion -- they were "One China" all the way.

[expatpat]

I can't help thinking we ourselves may be buying China a powerful military with the $s from our huge importation of consumer products from them.

[Jacquerie]

If our senior leadership has the b@lls, your United States Navy has the ships and men to defeat the chicoms. The sooner the better.

[Fast1]

All part of Bent Bills unfolding damage and legacy.

[Jacquerie]

You may be right, but history will not look kindly on the US or the President that abandons a democratic Taiwan to the murderous commies.

[johnd01]

...on the bright side, I don't think China has much to gain from mashing Taiwan into the ground. Politically, the rest of the world would see the militant side of communism rise again. A military Chinese action would ruin thier economy, as no other nation would dare trade with them again (except maybe for the "neo-comm" Russians). China would become a great big North Korea economically and politically.

[Calpernia]

I think I saw that posted here today.

[ApesForEvolution]

For all the Communist china-lovers BTTT