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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Taiwan sees jump in China missile build-up |
| 2008-01-02 |
| TAIPEI - Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said on Tuesday China had 1,328 ballistic missiles aimed at the self-ruled island, up by more than a third from a previous estimate, further threatening stability in the Taiwan Strait. In his final New Year’s Day address before stepping down in May, Chen said the number of short-range ballistic missiles deployed against Taiwan had gone from 200 in 2000, when he took office, and now exceeded his most recent estimate of 988. Chen railed against China’s growing military threat, saying its People’s Liberation Army had finalised plans for an invasion and planned to push out the bounds of its airspace. ‘In addition to setting in motion a three-stage plan for its People’s Liberation Army to invade Taiwan, Beijing is poised to designate an ‘air defence identification zone’ in the Taiwan Strait and open a new civil air route along the median of the Taiwan Strait,’ said Chen. ‘In doing so, China is once again challenging and attempting to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.’ Chen has previously said the three-stage plan includes establishing combat preparedness for contingencies in the Strait by 2007, ensuring capabilities for large-scale engagements by 2010 and being ready to ensure a decisive victory over Taiwan by 2015. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #11 ION, TOPIX > AIR FORCE MAGAZINE - GUAM, ALL OVER AGAIN. The military history of Guam as a US bastion in WESTPAC, and its possible future ala Marine Relocation to Guam from Okinawa. In case of any breakout of war or crises in Asia, the USA will operate = strike from GUAM [+ CNMI-Micron] - GUAM MENTIONED AS PART [KEY] OF CHINA'S DESIRED "SECOND ISLAND CHAIN" IN THE PACIFIC AGZ THE USA. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-01-02 21:20 |
| #10 China had 1,328 ballistic missiles Is missile launching going to be one of those new extreme Olympic sport for 2008? If I was a betting man, I'd go with the Taiwanese to declaring independence during the Olympics. Of course, I'd hedge that by putting money on the Chicoms to launch an invasion while they have thousands of foreign hostages, er visitors. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2008-01-02 21:15 |
| #9 The entire region has to be viewed as dynamically as a game of chess. A static defense is useless. Not only must you move elements to counter enemy movements, and move elements for offensive advantage, but you must also move elements for the sake of moving them, so that your enemy will neither know their locations or their destinations. The mainland probably makes the same mistake that the Soviet Union did in strategy. That is, their strategy is based in doctrine, not pragmatism. They figure that it does not matter if they telegraph their punches, because their punches will be of overwhelming force. But this makes defense a lot easier. All you have to do is figure a way, or ways, of countering the different attacks, and you win. Often, "by hitting them where they ain't." |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-01-02 10:56 |
| #8 Or at very least will to park a couple task forces off the coast of Taiwan with a squadron or two of F-22s based as well. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-01-02 09:30 |
| #7 If so, it would be the first President since FDR. It has been appeasement ever since. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2008-01-02 08:59 |
| #6 Definately bears watching post 2008 Olympics. Hopefully, who ever becomes U.S. president will have the stones to deal with the Chinese government and military appropriately. |
| Posted by: Delphi 2008-01-02 08:43 |
| #5 Joe makes sense (I must have coffee). |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-01-02 04:00 |
| #4 And a fine Happy new Year to you too Joe, right back atcha. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2008-01-02 00:17 |
| #3 GLOABL WARMING AND ASTEROIDS ASIDE, which will be first? to destabilize and finally destroy the Catholic Archdiocese and Public Governance here in Guam??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-01-02 00:11 |
| #2 SO, as a matter of WAR/BATTLE MAPPING, and drawing a line from Guangzhou to Vietnam to Guam-MIcroneia, CHICOMMIES is to the north of same line, RADICAL ISLAM gener below it [SE-South Asia/Indon-Sumatra-PNG-Austr] |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-01-02 00:09 |
| #1 See also WAFF.com > CHINA'S ASYMMETRICAL STRATEGY - THE BATTLE FOR ACCESS INTO THE WESTERN PACIFIC. China had already declared Guam + Pacific as future Chinese territories - only a matter/issue of how to get the PLA overseas to militarily enforce Chinese = ChiCom sovereignty and rights, correct??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-01-02 00:05 |