In the face of overwhelming evidence they're striving for a first-strike
survivability, (mobile launchers) why would anyone believe their "no first
use" propaganda? Their rapid speed of bringing the new Subs operational can
be directly attributed to their spying on the US and secrets they've
received over the years from their massive spying operations.

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=FT&Date=
20070524&ID=6958010

US fears over China long-range missiles

By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington and Mure Dickie in Beijing

Published: May 24 2007 21:13 | Last updated: May 25 2007 00:15

The US is increasingly concerned about China’s deployment of mobile land
and sea-based ballistic nuclear missiles that have the range to hit the US,
according to people familiar with an imminent Pentagon report on China’s
military.

The 2007 Pentagon China military power report will highlight the surprising
pace of development of a new Jin-class submarine equipped to carry a nuclear
ballistic missile with a range of more than 5,000 miles.

Washington is also concerned about the strategic implications of China’s
preparations later this year to start deploying a new mobile, land-based
DF-31A intercontinental ballistic missile that could target the whole US.

Robert Gates, US defence secretary, on Thursday said the report would not
exaggerate the threat posed by China. “It paints a picture of a country
that is devoting substantial resources to the military and developing...some
very sophisticated capabilities.”

     Related story

     Chinese build five nuclear subs

The report also outlines concerns about the build-up of missiles across the
Taiwan Strait, China’s recent anti-satellite missile test and its
development of technologies to deny access in space.

Beijing has strongly criticised previous Pentagon reports on the Chinese
military, which it sees as portraying China as a cold war-style enemy, and
points out that the Chinese military budget is a fraction of US defence
spending.

US experts on the Chinese military have been surprised by the pace of
development of the nuclear forces, and particularly the Jin programme. 
The Pentagon believes that China is developing five Jin submarines. One is
already being tested at sea and could become operational next year.

“The Chinese have maintained that they have a ‘no first use’ policy
[for nuclear weapons] and that they have a minimal deterrent policy, which
means they have only enough nuclear capability to retaliate,” said Michael
Green, former White House senior Asia adviser to President George W. Bush.

“But open source journals and discussions and their own modernisation
suggest that they are possibly developing capabilities for a more flexible
use of nuclear weapons, and survivability and tactical uses that would call
into question this declared policy.”

In 2005, Chinese General Zhu Chenghu fuelled US concerns that China might be
changing its strategic stance when he told journalists that it might have to
use nuclear weapons against the US if attacked during a confrontation over
Taiwan. Chinese officials later restated the country’s “no first use”
policy and have privately played down Gen Zhu’s influence.

Some analysts have also suggested that the Chinese move could be partly in
response to US plans to develop a ballistic missile defence system.

Russia has recently raised concerns about plans by the US to place missile
interceptors in Europe.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007





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