DESPITE RED CHINESE JITTERS, MOVEMENT ON MISSILE DEFENSE IN ASIA

The Telegraph ^ | 9/28/2012 | Richard Harrison and Nicholas Grothaus, eds.

[bruinbirdman]

U.S. plans to create a missile shield in East Asia are progressing despite concerns from China. As part of the evolving system, the U.S. and its regional allies have been weighing options for a second, and possibly even a third, X-Band Radar site in Southeast Asia to compliment the one already in place in northern Japan. That detection capability would be utilized by ground and sea based interceptors, such as Aegis-equipped cruisers and THAAD ground systems.

But what is the aim of the new Asian shield? While the system is commonly cited by the U.S. as a defense against North Korean ballistic missiles, recent comments by Steven Hildreth from the Congressional Research Service have shed light on a different goal as well. “The focus of our rhetoric is North Korea... The reality is that we’re also looking longer term at the elephant in the room, which is China.” Mr. Hildeth’s argument is echoed by officials in China, who have expressed worries that the shield constitutes a possible threat to their strategic nuclear deterrent - and China's ability to coerce Taiwan with short- and medium range missiles.

[meatloaf]

Nothing like castrating the Chicoms and isolating them with 100 million plus surplus males. They’ll need one helluva land war just to balance their population.

[freeangel]

Why is China concerned? Hussein will simply give them the rest of the “classified” information regarding any defense systems. Heck, I’d be surprised to hear he had not helped them hack into our defense systems already.