China Threatens Taiwan with “Destruction”
May 17, 2004 :: Washington Post :: News
Just prior to the inauguration of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, China warned Taiwan to withdraw from its “dangerous lurch toward independence” or face “destruction.” Besides this stick, China also offered as carrot a host of economic advantages if Chen would use the phrase “One China” in his inauguration speech. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
Japanese War Scenarios Anticipate Chinese Invasion in Event of Taiwan War
May 15, 2004 :: Japan Times :: News
Documents acquired by the Japanese Kyodo news service show that the Japanese Defense Agency has drawn up plans anticipating an invasion by China during an attack on Taiwan. Japan’s plan in such a scenario would involve the deployment of 7,200 ground troops to Japan’s southernmost islands to deter an invasion of the Okinawa Prefecture.
In particular, the documents mentioned that Miyako and nearby islands are likely to be targeted because of an Air Self-Defence Force radar base and two airports located in the area. China may invade Yonaguni Island, the westernmost part of Japan and 100 km from Taiwan, as a stepping stone to attack Taiwan, the office assumes. It also assumes that China would attack the islands by sea and air, with marine forces landing from assault ships as well as airborne units and special forces attacking ASDF bases and airports with rocket-propelled grenade and other weapons, according to the documents. The office believes that China will deploy 1,400 troops to attack Miyako and Yonaguni islands. If Ishigaki Island is included, the number would total 5,200, the documents say.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, China, Taiwan
China Aiding Syrian Missile Program
May 13, 2004 :: Middle East Newsline :: News
Rogue states are not the only, or even the chief sources of proliferation. In one way or another, much can be traced back to Russia and China. The Middle East Newsline today reports that, despite Bashar Assad’s disavowals of any pursuit of WMDs, Syria is in fact working ever more closely with China, receiving from the latter technological and diplomatic delegations to discuss how to boost Syria’s missile capabilities. Middle East Newsline cites one diplomatic source saying that “The Chinese effort is meant to provide Syria with technical assistance that it has not been able to receive from other countries…The focus is to extend the Scud from short-range to medium- and even intermediate-range.” (Link)
» More stories on: China, Proliferation, Syria
The Real Story is China
May 11, 2004 :: Worldtribune.com :: News
Sol Sanders, writing at worldtribune.com, argues that despite the global obsession with events in Iraq, “the real story is China.” Sanders points out the significance of China’s increasingly coercive relation to Hong Kong, represented in no small part by the recent parade of a Chinese military fleet through the Hong Kong harbor. (Article, Link)
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Graver Threats
May 6, 2004 :: Washington Times :: Analysis
Commenting on the appearance of Bush and Cheney before the 9-11 commission, William Hawkins argues in the Washington Times that the criticism the administration has spent too much time addressing rogue states, nuclear and missile proliferation, and missile defense and not enough time on terrorism, is ill-founded, even dangerous, approach to take. Calling upon readers to take a broader, more strategic perspective, he notes that “such developments posed far greater threats to American security than did al Qaeda, and still do.” He goes on to describe the sort of strategic thinking which must prevail if America is to remain free, and the danger that the war on terrorism will become a distraction from these “graver threats.” Terrorism, he writes, is a tool of the weak. The danger, one may therefore infer, is that if the United States sees only these weak (or, as they are often called, “asymmetrical”) threats, we will neglect the greater, more traditional sources of power in the world. (More »»»)
» More stories on: China, Russia
North Korean Taepo-Dong II Now For Sale
May 5, 2004 :: Worldtribune.com :: News
Quoting “western intelligence sources,” worldtribune.com reports that North Korea has begun to offer its long-range Taepo-Dong II for sale to several middle eastern nations.
The news comes just days after other reports that North Korea is building new missile bases, developing new missiles, has “at least” eight nuclear weapons, and, ironically enough, that Kim Jong Il pledged to the United States that he would not transfer ballistic missiles to terrorists. The sale of missiles is, however, North Korea’s primary source of revenue.
Likely buyers include another rogue state and state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, which has apparently been negotiating a purchase with Pyongyang. Worldtribune’s source says that 2003 negotiations for the purchase of the Taepo-Dong by Syria and Libya apparently were not pursued, but that Iran was considering the Taepo-Dong as a possible basis for the its ICBM program, the Shahab-5, the development of the engines for which China is also named as an aid.
Depending on the version of the Taepo-Dong II, the intercontinental missile has a range of 6000km or more. The three stage version of the missile has a range capable of striking the continental United States. (Article, Link)
» Dec. 14, 1999: North Korea Readies Taepo-Dong I missiles for sale to Iran
» Dec. 7, 1999: U.S. expects Iran will be North Korea’s first ICBM customer
» May 5, 2004: Middle East Newswire on Taepo Dong Market
» May 6, 2004: LA Times: North Korea “may” have missile to reach Guam
» More stories on: China, North Korea, Proliferation
» Missile details: Shahab-3, Taep'o-dong 2
China Shows Off DF-15 SRBMs Deployed Near Taiwan
May 4, 2004 :: East Asia Intel :: News
China is “showing off” some of its many short-range ballistic missiles deployed off the coast of Taiwan, with a April 29 publication of DF-15 (CSS-6) pictures in the official military newspaper, PLA Daily, reports East Asia Intel.
Although the missiles are short-range (600km), the paper pointedly describes them as “strategic,” indicative of the importance China attaches to Taiwan. The PLA Daily identifies the missiles as belonging to China’s Second Artillery Corps.
The publication comes weeks before the May 20 inauguration of Taiwanese President Chen. (Article, Link)
» NYT, May 5, 2004: China displays warships in Hong Kong harbor
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
» Missile details: CSS-6
U.S. to Sell Defensive Radar to Taiwan; China Denounces
April 2, 2004 :: Straits Times :: News
Taiwan is preparing to buy a long-range ground-based early-warning radar from the United States which would allow Taiwan to detect Chinese missile launches.
Since the announcement of the sale on Tuesday, China has been attacking the sale, worth some 1.78 billion. “We have always opposed US sales of advanced weapons to Taiwan,” said Kong Quan, a foreign ministry spokesman. A State Department spokesman defended the sale by noting that the radars are “inherently defensive.” The sale had originally been approved by the Clinton administration in 1999.
China’s irritation stems from the fact that any effective defenses which could be used to deter China could then be use to assure a formal declaration of independence by the island. (Article, Link)
» Financial Times on Taiwan sale, Chinese denunciation
» Apr. 1, 2004: Taiwan establishes Missile Command
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
Taiwan Missile Development in Response to Chinese Buildup
April 2, 2004 :: Reuters :: News
Taiwan is reportedly planning to produce 150 missiles capable of striking targets within China, according to a recent issue of Jane’s Missiles and Rockets—30 medium-range and 120 short-range—which will be based on Taiwan’s existing Tien Kung surface-to air missile. Taiwan may also produce some 500 land-attack cruise missiles with a range of 1,500 km, which would be based on the existing Hsiung Feng (Brave Wind) anti-ship missile.
The effort is said to take place over the next decade, which means that by the time the force is deployed, it would still be dwarfed by that of Communist China. Currently, China has at least 500 short-range missiles near Taiwan alone (distinct from its longer range missiles aimed at the United States), and continues its buildup at the rate of 75 additional missiles per year. Supposing China does not increase the rate of its short-range missile buildup, there would be some 1250 missiles offshore Taiwan within the same ten years. Nevertheless, Taiwan’s own missile development is salutary, and should conduce to both deterring mainland China and the defense of Taiwanese independence. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
Gaffney on the Threat From China
March 29, 2004 :: Washington Times :: Analysis
Frank Gaffney of the Center for Security Policy perceptively notes the danger the exclusive attention on post 9-11 commission poses, the neglect of another more strategic threat, namely that from Communist China. (Article, Link)
» Center for Security Policy report on the neglected threat from China
» More stories on: Analysis, China
