| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| US concerns over China weapons in Iraq |
| 2007-07-07 |
| The US has raised concerns with the Chinese government about the discovery of Chinese-made weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan. Richard Lawless, departing senior Pentagon official for Asia, on Friday said Washington had flagged the issue with Beijing. In recent months, the US has become increasingly alarmed that Chinese armour-piercing ammunition has been used by the Taliban in Afghanistan and insurgents in Iraq. A senior US official recently told the FT that Iran appeared to be providing the Chinese-made weapons. He said Washington had no evidence that Beijing was complicit, but stressed that the US would like China to “do a better job of policing these sales”. Mr Lawless said the question of origin was less important than who was facilitating the transfer. The concerns about Chinese weapons follow months of allegations from US officials that Iran is helping attack US troops in Iraq, and more recently Afghanistan, by providing technology for bombs that can destroy Humvees and other heavily armoured US vehicles. Mr Lawless also expressed concern about North Korea’s missile programme. Last week, Pyongyang tested a new short-range missile that could target not only the US military base at Pyeongtaek but also Seoul. He said North Korea was close to being able to field the solid-fuel, highly mobile rocket. Mr Lawless said the US military relationship with China was “overall, not bad”, but there was a need for more engagement between the militaries, particularly at the senior levels. “They have been more willing to engage, but it is in millimetres and increments,” he said. He said the Pentagon was disappointed that China had not given Admiral Michael Mullen, chief of naval operations, the same kind of access that his Chinese counterpart received during a visit to the US. Adm Mullen, who has since been nominated as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ended up not visiting China. Mr Lawless also said it was important for China to hold talks with the US about its nuclear forces. A recent Pentagon report concluded Beijing was developing a more survivable nuclear force, including submarine-launched missiles, and mobile land-based missiles. Since Presidents Hu Jintao and George W. Bush last year discussed increasing military exchanges, China has not responded to an offer for the commander of its strategic nuclear forces to visit US Strategic Command. “There is a great shortfall in our understanding of China’s intentions,” said Mr Lawless, referring to the overall Chinese military build-up. “When you don’t know why they are doing it, it is pretty damn threatening . . . they leave us no choice but to assume the worst.” Mr Lawless also suggested that the Pentagon had refused a request from Japan for extensive data on the F-22 fighter jet. Japan wants the data to consider whether the advanced fighter – which under current law cannot be exported – would meet its defence needs. Mr Lawless said the Pentagon had offered Japan only basic data, which would not require a change in US law. |
| Posted by:lotp |
| #8 Cut off their supply of Iranian oil and see how they like it. But then China would cut off WalMart's supply of plastic crap. Sounds like a win-win to me. Agreed about the Spanish Civil War analogy. I always felt like the Falklands served that sort of purpose for Britain and the USA. We really need to do everything possible to expand and steepen China's learning curve. They are up to no good and we are their principal target. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-07-07 15:49 |
| #7 If anyone at the burg is looking for historical parallels to the current conflict in Iraq, I suggest looking, as mentioned in #5, to Spain. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2007-07-07 13:19 |
| #6 Cut off their supply of Iranian oil and see how they like it. But then China would cut off WalMart's supply of plastic crap. Oh, the humanity! |
| Posted by: Elmereter Hupash6222 2007-07-07 12:28 |
| #5 Spanish Civil War. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2007-07-07 10:56 |
| #4 Makes sense that China would want to see its weapons field-tested against American forces. Knocks the painful front end off their learning curve if they end up in direct combat against us in the future. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-07-07 07:50 |
| #3 Hey, armour-piercing ammunition, poisoned toothpaste, counterfeit airframe bolts ... if it kills more Americans, China will cheerfully sell it. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-07-07 01:09 |
| #2 “When you don’t know why they are doing it, it is pretty damn threatening . . . they leave us no choice but to assume the worst.” I'd say you're on to something there Dick. Keep up the good werk. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-07-07 00:41 |
| #1 Iran's Space Program |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-07-07 00:21 |