China's weapons exceed self-defense needs: US military

China's weapons exceed self-defense needs: US military
by P. Parameswaran
Mon Jan 28, 5:47 PM ET

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080128/pl_afp/uschinamilitarynavyport_080128224739

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said Monday it was "troubling"
that China's weapons systems capability exceeded the level Beijing
defined as necessary for self-defense.

The head of the US armed forces in the Asia-Pacific, Admiral Timothy
Keating, said he was told by Chinese leaders during a visit to Beijing
that its so-called "area denial weapons" were "to protect those things
that are ours."

But he said, "we find it troubling that the capabilities of some of
these weapons systems would tend to exceed our own expectations for
protecting those things that are 'ours.'"

Keating said the United States had "intelligence that reinforces my
opinion that China is developing, fielding and has in place weapons
that could be characterized as having, amongst perhaps other purposes,
an ability to restrict movement in and around certain areas on the
sea, in the air or under the sea.

"I'll go back to the point we made a couple of times already -- that
we understood PRC (China's) intentions, not just their transparency,
not just the fact that these weapons exist. We know they exist," he
said.

"It's why are they being fielded," Keating asked, speaking at a
Washington forum of the US-based Asia Society.

The Pentagon fears China's area-denial arms, including missiles, can
be used to attack US aircraft carriers and ships, reports have said.

"The PLA (China's People's Liberation Army) appears engaged in a
sustained effort to develop the capability to interdict, at long
ranges, aircraft carrier and expeditionary strike groups that might
deploy to the western Pacific," according to the annual Pentagon
report last year to the US Congress.

"Increasingly, China's area denial/anti-access forces overlap,
providing multiple layers of offensive systems, utilizing the sea,
air, and space," the report said.

The United States fears a Chinese military buildup could thwart any
intervention in a conflict over Taiwan and challenge US naval access
to the Asian region.

A year ago, China used a ballistic missile to destroy a Chinese
weather satellite in low Earth orbit, causing worries in Washington
that Beijing could disrupt US military satellites in a regional
conflict.

In addition, a Chinese submarine approached a US aircraft carrier in
the Pacific Ocean and surfaced within firing range of its torpedoes
and missiles before being detected.

Keating, who just returned from his second visit to China, said that
the United States and China should have increased dialogue and better
communication and develop "bonds of trust and understanding" to avoid
potential conflicts.

"I think we will proceed on a path that will reduce tensions and
reduce the likelihood of misunderstanding leading to crisis, leading
to conflict," he said.

Keating also expressed relief that a November row with Beijing over
the port visits of US ships appeared to have been resolved.

An American warship USS Blue Ridge was allowed Monday to dock in Hong
Kong, in the first visit by a US vessel since the USS Kitty Hawk was
denied entry in the Chinese administered territory about two months
ago.

Two US minesweepers were also refused permission to shelter in Hong
Kong from a brewing tropical storm.

"The sense I got is that they didn't want to be confrontational,"
Keating told reporters.

"I am not as concerned today as I was before ... We think we are
developing a better understanding of them."

.

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