For about a year now, I have been posting about China's extraordinary military build up, especially it's navy. The Chinese are spending billions to upgrade all aspects of their military, priorities appearing to go to technology and striving for a "blue water" navy. In acquiring new technology, China has pulled out all the stops, (see related post). Just when I was becoming very concerned that this was going to slide in under the radar, SECDEF Rumsfield, has taken China to task on this unprecedented buildup. Matt Kelly explains in his article.
"Rumsfeld said the Pentagon's annual assessment of China's military capabilities shows China is spending more than its leaders acknowledge, expanding its missile capabilities and developing advanced military technology.
China now has the world's third-largest military budget, he said, behind the United States and Russia. He did not say how large the U.S. believes China's military budget is.
"Since no nation threatens China, one must wonder: Why this growing investment? Why these continuing large and expanding arms purchases?" Rumsfeld said at the conference organized by the International Institute of Strategic Studies, a private, London-based think tank."
The Chinese are significantly increasing their submarine forces capabilities. There is only one reason for this, th ability to challenge the US Navy in the western Pacific. There simply is no other naval power in that region that could present any challenge to China. If the Chinese have any designs on Taiwan or the Spratly Islands, they would need to neutralize the US fleet in the region. - Sailor
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