Annual Pentagon China Military Power Report

[xinhui]

is out.

Go check it out.


http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs...eport_2009.pdf

[xinhui]

China’s Military Capabilities Continue to Grow, Report Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/news....aspx?id=53642

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2009 – Transformation of the Chinese military has gained speed, but U.S. officials would like to see China become more transparent about military and security affairs, according to a report to Congress released today. Video

The report, called “Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,” provides some new details, “but there are no new, major strategic insights revealed or capabilities revealed,” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today.

In the report, officials said that Chinese transparency has improved over the past year, “but much remains to be learned about China’s national and military strategies, progress and trends in its military modernization, and the related implications for regional security and stability.”

China’s increased military ability stems from the nation’s emergence as an economic superpower. With 8 percent per year economic growth, the Chinese have been able to invest significant sums in military modernization.

Morrell said the United States continues to ask for “more dialogue and transparency in our dealings with the Chinese government and military, all in an effort to reduce suspicions on both sides.”

The Chinese still look at transparency as “a transaction to be negotiated.” U.S. officials would like the Chinese to see transparency as a responsibility that accompanies the accumulation of national power. Without this transparency, conclusions in the report are subject to best guesses by U.S. experts.

To begin, the Chinese need to be more transparent in budgeting, the report says. The People’s Liberation Army budget has more than doubled since 2000 -- from $27.9 billion to $60.1 billion. Officials believe the Chinese are underreporting the amount they spend on security. The real budget in 2008 is probably between $105 billion and $150 billion, they said.

Llimited transparency can be dangerous and lead to instability. Also, the Chinese reluctance creates uncertainty and increases the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation, U.S. officials say.

“The United States continues to work with our allies and friends in the region to monitor these developments and adjust our policies accordingly,” the report says.

Chinese military capabilities have increased tremendously. People’s Liberation Army officials have invested in the acquisition of advanced foreign weapons, and they have fueled hothouse growth in domestic defense industries. The Chinese military also has poured money into research and development. On top of this, there is a far-reaching organizational and doctrinal reform of the People’s Liberation Army.

“China’s ability to sustain military power at a distance remains limited, but its armed forces continue to develop and field disruptive military technologies, including those for anti-access/area-denial, as well as for nuclear, space and cyber warfare, that are changing regional military balances and that have implications beyond the Asia-Pacific region,” the report says.

China continues to put military pressure on Taiwan. “China’s armed forces are rapidly developing coercive capabilities for the purpose of deterring Taiwan’s pursuit of de jure independence,” the report says. More advanced missiles, more equipment and better-trained troops have deployed to the military regions opposite the island. The military balance in the region continues to shift in Beijing’s favor, the report says, and Taiwan no longer enjoys “air dominance” over the Taiwan Straits.

The capabilities the Chinese are putting in place “could in the future be used to pressure Taiwan toward a settlement of the cross-Strait dispute on Beijing’s terms while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict,” the report says.

Some of the Chinese capabilities have allowed the military to contribute to peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and counter-piracy. “However, some of these capabilities, as well as other, more disruptive ones, could allow China to project power to ensure access to resources or enforce claims to disputed territories,” the report says.

The Chinese assert that the People’s Liberation Army is purely defensive and aimed solely at protecting China’s security and interests. “Over the past several years, China has begun a new phase of military development by beginning to articulate roles and missions for the PLA that go beyond China’s immediate territorial interests,” the report says. But these statements have not cleared up international community questions about the purposes and objectives of the PLA’s evolving doctrine and capabilities.

China has modernized its intercontinental ballistic missile arsenal with the deployment of DF-31 and DF-31A missiles, the report says. They also are readying to launch a new class of ballistic missile submarines soon, it says.

The Chinese military has worked to develop anti-access and area-denial weapons, the report says. This capability goes beyond the nation’s borders. China has developed the capability to hold surface ships, including aircraft carriers, at risk. The weaponry includes quiet submarines, advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, wire-guided and wake-homing torpedoes, or anti-ship ballistic missiles. They are working to deny use of shore-based airfields, secure bastions and regional logistics hubs via conventional ballistic missiles with greater ranges and accuracy, and land-attack cruise missiles, the report says.

The Chinese also can project air power using new advanced aircraft, advanced long-range surface-to-air missile systems, air surveillance systems and ship-borne air defenses, the report says. China’s space-based reconnaissance and positioning are leading to a precision-strike capability.

China still lags in developing an amphibious and airborne capability, airborne, air-to-air refueling, at-sea replenishment and joint integration, the report says.

[Merlin]

– Transformation of the Chinese military has gained speed, but U.S. officials would like to see China become more transparent about military and security affairs, ...

Of course. But it is the same old story. China will act in its own interest and the US will ask for things in its own interest.

[Officer of Engineers]

This is the first acknowledgement that the DF-31x have been deployed.

[xinhui]

I have not finish the whole thing, but it also talks about a second PLA Army SSM brigade organic to Guangzhou MR. The existence of of a Guangzhou MR SSM bdg has been rumored for sometime now.

[Officer of Engineers]

Andy,

Stupid question but has the 2AF ever talked about using HE instead of nukes in ICBMs? You can see where I'm going with this.

[Skywatcher]

Andy,

Stupid question but has the 2AF ever talked about using HE instead of nukes in ICBMs? You can see where I'm going with this.

Sir, considering the limited amount of ICBMs that we know of, it would seem like a very poor way to spend a multi million dollar investment.

[Inst]

There's already an AShBM being developed. I suppose you're suggesting there may be attempts to develop weapons to strike US assets in Guam or Hawaii...

[nebula82]

Thanks for the link Xinhui, look forward to reading it.

Do you know if the US issues the same or a similar report for India, and if so, do you happen to have a link of the most recent document? My search so far has not found anything.

Many thanks,
Nebula82.

[nebula82]

China's response to the Pentagon report, no surprise here.

"Beijing has reacted angrily to a Pentagon report on China's military power, which claimed it was altering the military balance in Asia.

A foreign ministry spokesman called it a "gross distortion of the facts", urged an end to "Cold War thinking".

Beijing was again criticised for a lack of transparency in reporting military spending and security policy.

"This report issued by the US side continues to play up the fallacy of China's military threat," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told journalists.

The Pentagon reported that China was successfully managing to expand its arsenal of sophisticated weaponry, even though Beijing's ability to sustain military power at a distance remains limited."

Full story on BBC Online - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7965084.stm

I wonder if China will start doing its own USA Military Report in response?

Nebula82.

[Officer of Engineers]

Sir, considering the limited amount of ICBMs that we know of, it would seem like a very poor way to spend a multi million dollar investment.

They're armed with HE right now. Do recall that the CMC guards access to their nukes like a father protecting his daughter's virginity. So much so that the 2AF went the conventional route.

The question is have done the same to the ICBM force as a conventional 1st strike system.

[xinhui]

Thanks for the link Xinhui, look forward to reading it.

Do you know if the US issues the same or a similar report for India, and if so, do you happen to have a link of the most recent document? My search so far has not found anything.

Many thanks,
Nebula82.

As far as I know of, they only funded a China report.

[xinhui]

Andy,

Stupid question but has the 2AF ever talked about using HE instead of nukes in ICBMs? You can see where I'm going with this.

I don't recall reading anything like that, I guess technically it is possible to put a 2K bomb inside, and I agree with skywatcher, it is a bit $$$ and the other side would automatically assume your ICBM is nuke equipped.

[xinhui]

China's response to the Pentagon report, no surprise here.

"Beijing has reacted angrily to a Pentagon report on China's military power, which claimed it was altering the military balance in Asia.

A foreign ministry spokesman called it a "gross distortion of the facts", urged an end to "Cold War thinking".

Beijing was again criticised for a lack of transparency in reporting military spending and security policy.

"This report issued by the US side continues to play up the fallacy of China's military threat," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told journalists.

The Pentagon reported that China was successfully managing to expand its arsenal of sophisticated weaponry, even though Beijing's ability to sustain military power at a distance remains limited."

Full story on BBC Online - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7965084.stm

I wonder if China will start doing its own USA Military Report in response?

Nebula82.

The process has became ritualized as I stated elsewhere. However, I found the timing interesting as most of the reports in the previous years were delayed to add the political spin of the month into it, (recall the flamewar that get started with a suggest of a strike against the Three Gorges Dam by the ROC military). They released this year's report "on time" and say nothing about the USS Impeccable incident, very interesting.

I only scan the report once last night and I need to read it a few more times.

[Merlin]

This is a Pentagon report that is causing the ripple between the two countries.

I think Obama will be having a word with Gates who in turn will talk to the Pentagon.