North Korea is on our strategic radar now, but in the long term China is the real threat.
The U.S. Defense Department says China is increasing the number of missiles aimed at Taiwan.Posted by Alan at July 30, 2003 09:12 PMIn a new report released Wednesday, the Pentagon says China has 450 short range ballistic missiles and is expected to increase the number by 75 each year, more than the United States had expected. The report says the main reason for China's military plan is to prepare for a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
The Pentagon says the missiles are more sophisticated and the accuracy has improved. It says the Chinese army has developed longer range missiles capable of reaching Japan.
The report also says China is spending far more on defense than it had admitted. Beijing announced last year that its military budget is $20 billion. But U.S. officials estimate it could be three times that number. The Pentagon report says China's modernization program relies heavily on assistance from Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union.
U.S. defense officials have said China's move to upgrade its military are at odds with its stated goal to achieve reunification with Taiwan peacefully. China considers Taiwan a renegade province and has threatened to re-take the island by force if necessary.
via Voice of America
Full report via Defenselink (pdf)