China: US China threat?

People's Daily

PJ: US and China have a natural distrust of each other making diplomatic relations between the two extremely important. Economically the US is still ranked the strongest economy with China now taking over the second place position from Japan. And while both countries compete for the top spot, they both rely on each other economically. In addition, there has never been a time when diplomatic ties were more important for security with tensions in the Middle East escalating and North Korea a simmering threat to peace.


China and the U.S.: Who threatens whom after all?

On February 8, Admiral Michael G. Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest ranking officer in the US Armed Forces and the President's principal military advisor, inked and published the new "National Military Strategic Report". According to this military strategic report released by the Pentagon, ADM Mullen said the United States would step up its presence in the Asia-Pacific region although there was little new in the report.

The report has betrayed the US intention in dealing with the rise of Chinese military regarding such issues as the important American matters will come increasingly from the Asia-Pacific Area, continuing to pay close attention to China's military progress and a support to (Japan's) Self-Defense Army to spur its overseas operation capacity and "to further increase the influence of US military in Southeast Asia and all is aimed to direct at China openly and secretly.

For a long period of time, in global voices of the international community led by Western nations with the United States at the helms has all along cited the Chinese military modernization as a "negative variable" to demonize the nation's military development.

"Only by comparison can things be distinguished," noted a popular Chinese saying. The "trinity" strategic strength comprising the strategic nuclear weaponry power for attacks, the missile defense system and the unceasing renewable facilities is occupying an unshakable overwhelming superiority. Its strategic nuclear warheads are enough to destroy the world several times, its missile defense system has already formed the partially indestructible defense shield; it conventional longer-range ballistic missiles may achieve the "precise global immediate attacks", which can be effected by the multiple modern strategic bombers like the B-52.

Ostensibly, Admiral Mike Mullent's document is about how the US military ought to organize and prepare for future threats. And as a matter of fact, the first flight of the X-37B was launched on top of Atlas B booster in late November 2009, and the development of X-37B has been accelerated, and the X-47B flight-test program has been well under way.

To date, the US military has the development capacity on a global scale with the powerful global combat strength. The US military has already completed its process of informationalization, and it is rapidly heading to the "no-man", networking orientation and expended its increasing marked lead with an unmatched speed.

As for Japan, which has always declared to take China's "military threat" as an excuse to beef up its armament. Since the 80's of the last century, 90 percent of its "'Self-Defense forces' weapons" have been made in Japan, and a considerable part of it has reached to the advanced world level.

To date, Japan's space and missile industry has formed a quite complete research and production set-up, especially the H2-A and M5 Launch vehicles, the engineering testing satellite and earth observing satellite and international space station have all been up to the advanced world standards. A conventional submarine has reached the top global level; the "Aegis" destroyer and an amphibious landing craft have also salient, fresh features and evolved high, sophisticate standards and an escort vessel with a displacement of approximately 20,000 tons has already in fact had the function of the rear aircraft carrier.

Moreover, Japan has stored nuclear fuel enough to make 1,000 atomic and hydrogen bombs at the Hiroshima levels and, in case of need, the nation is capable to make 1,000-2,000 medium and long-range ballistic guided missiles in just three to six months. In the realm of air force, Japan has most F-15 fighters besides the United State. So its air operation capacity can be termed to be the first class in the world.

From the perspective of naval force development, the maritime force including aircraft carrier is needed to safeguard the ocean-going trade and oil transport routes. But China today is the only permanent UN Security Council member that does not have a single aircraft carrier. In contrast, Brazil, Spain and even Thailand have their own aircraft carriers, and people consider it very normal. As for India, it has gone into arms purchases over recent years, and will have three aircraft carriers in the next five years or so. And the Western world has far exceeded China in terms of military modernization.

The United States' fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft -- F22, has already formed the combat efficiency and are deployed in the Asia-Pacific region, whereas China has test-fired "Annihilated 20" fighters but was nevertheless labeled the "cap" of menacing the security of the United States and the adjacent countries.

At present, US aircraft carriers are plying far and wide across the world, including those swaying at China's main "entrance gate" but the growth of the Chinese nation's corresponding defense power has been treated with an overbearing logic of "letting state officials set fire only while not allowing common people to light a single lamp," as another popular Chinese proverb goes.

By People's Daily Online and its author is Yang Yi, Pd special guest commentator and an ace researcher at the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) National Defense University


http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90780/91343/7294701.html