Re: [iwar] [fc:Chinese.strategists.suggest.U.S..would.not.defend.Taiwan.if.attacked.by.mainland]

From: e.r. (fastflyer28@yahoo.com)
Date: 2002-08-28 09:07:08


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Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 09:07:08 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: [iwar] [fc:Chinese.strategists.suggest.U.S..would.not.defend.Taiwan.if.attacked.by.mainland]
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On China- it might be of interest to note that a Congressionally mandated study which lasted 12 months and was released in the last few days turned many basic beliefs of US- China policy on its head. Reports in both the WashPost and NY Times pretty much told the same story.  The Congressional study was completed by a comsission  of 12 China experts, all government outsiders, 6 chosen by democrats and 6 by the GOP.  It is as close as we have come to getting a real assessment by outsiders and to make this quick, it painted a foreboding picture of Chinese defense policy.  There was also a CBO study released this week that came to several of the same conclusions.          
We have know for some time the PLA has a dedicated group of hacker in its ranks. It appears they also have strategic interests in the Pac-Rim beyond Taiwan and both studies concluded that China may look like a sleeping dog, but their program of military modernization is potentially leading to a new force posture. Whey may be able to become the "bad boys" of asia if they have such interests.  What mitigates this all is we have heard them bluster before. They have openly spoken of purchasing either Spanish, or Russian AirCraft Cruisers.    It may be a simple case of sabre rattling.  If they are sharpening those sabres, we do have a problem.  The China Desk at State can only yell "incoming", untill both studies are examined for both intellectual honesty and reality.  After going through both stuies, they do not paint and friendly picture of the future.  One thing to keep track of is China provides us a way to keep Russia from having dreams of becoming a great empire again.  With President Putin in charge, he has shown a very forward leaning national security stance.  The only thing that will keep Russia in check in money.way to be a way to the she 
 Fred Cohen wrote:Geostrategy-Direct
Week of September 3, 2002
NORTHEAST ASIA REPORT 

Chinese strategists suggest U.S. would not defend Taiwan if attacked by mainland 

[FC - Or perhaps if the US engages in one more large-scale deployed
field action, they will not be ABLE to react rapidly to such an event?
After all, the published doctrine and basis for US military airlift
deployability is two near-simultaneous regional conflicts.  Add Iraq to
Afghanastan, and Taiwan is easy pickings?]

Some Chinese strategic thinkers are putting out word that the United
States may not defend Taiwan in the event of a conflict with the
mainland. 

The Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po quoting Beijing strategists said if
China takes military action, the United States "is not at all certain to
become involved, in light of its own national interests, and if there is
involvement, it will not be too deep."

President Bush sought to undo a decade of "strategic ambiguity" about a
U.S.  defense of Taiwan last year when he announced publicly that the
United States would do "whatever it takes" to defend Taiwan if it
attacked by the mainland. 

The previous position of the Clinton administration is that the United
States would not defend Taiwan if it declared independence. 

   "Taiwan is nothing more than a card," one Chinese official was quoted
as saying, adding that the island is not a major consideration in the
United States Asia-Pacific strategy. 

The article went on to say that Taiwan has been part of China and is a
key base in the Pacific with "an excellent combination of conditions and
has advantages both for offense and defense."

The United States, by contrast, has other bases at Okinawa and Guam. 

Analysts say the comment have raised the notion that China's military
might miscalculate and attempt to retake Taiwan by force, if it thinks
the United States would not intervene. 

A Chinese military source told the newspaper that the current
large-scale exercises near Taiwan are targeted at deterring "Taiwan
independence."

Another Hong Kong newspaper, Ming Po, reported last week that Chinese
communist leaders meeting in the seaside resort of Beidaihe have
toughened their position on the use of force following recent
pro-independence statements by Taiwanese President Chen Shuibian. 

The newspaper quoted sources close to the Communist Party as saying
Party leaders agreed that it was "essential to be prepared to attack
Taiwan independence by military means and settle the Taiwan problem at
any time."

The Central Military Commission plans to hold a larger military exercise
along the Fujian coast, to review military modernization efforts and
national defense mobilization capabilities and that "a clear and
specific warning to the Taiwan independence forces" will be issued soon. 

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