« Debbie Schlussel: Lola Elzein Of The Muslim "Arab American PAC" Officer Threatens My Life/Family; ICE Official Linked? | Main | Terror cell in Canada busted »

June 3, 2006

Chinese new arsenal and its implications

Topics: China

From the Washington Post:

The Pentagon's annual report to Congress on China's military power, released this week, reveals that Beijing's buildup has advanced well beyond what most analysts considered likely just 10 years ago. Some highlights: The new arsenal of the People's Liberation Army includes more than 700 missiles deployed opposite Taiwan, a fleet of sophisticated diesel electric submarines, a growing nuclear submarine capability and advanced destroyers armed with lethal anti-ship cruise missiles. By making the potential cost of any U.S. intervention in the Taiwan Strait extraordinarily high, Beijing has accomplished its decade-long goal of establishing a credible military threat to Taiwan -- as well as a deterrent to the United States. The question is, what next?

The report points to some answers. With a growing dependence on oil imported from the Middle East and Africa, Chinese strategists are talking about creating a blue-water navy to secure Beijing's energy supply lines. The military may be reconsidering its nuclear "no-first-use policy" and examining ways to secure China's territorial claims in the South China and East China seas. Simply stated, as China's military power has grown, so too, it appears, have the strategic tasks that it may be assigned. This shouldn't be surprising. Our own history teaches that as a nation's power grows so do its ambitions.

So the country who jails protesters (HT Free Thoughts) and bloggers and do not respect Human Rights at all has a new arsenal ... to secure its energy supply lines. And that "No more blood for oil"?

You can continue reading here.

Posted by Eurabian at June 3, 2006 7:34 AM

Articles Related to China:

• Hu Heckler is Charged in US Court - Apr 21, 2006