From Asia Times:
China’s official media have refuted recent reports and official statements in the West that highlight major advances in Chinese military capabilities.
Since the January 11 Chinese anti-satellite test that downed one of its own defunct weather satellites, there has been growing coverage and speculation on China’s space weapons, ballistic-missile developments, the new Jian-10 jet fighter, potential launching of an aircraft carrier, and China’s “anti-access” strategies against US forces in a potential military conflict across the Taiwan Strait. Beijing argues that these alleged capabilities are either exaggerated or fabricated with ill intentions.
China’s anti-satellite (ASAT) test has drawn the most attention. US military leaders suggest that the test demonstrated significant progress by incorporating a mobile platform in its launch system, hence “displaying a worrisome level of flexibility on the part of this potential adversary”, according to US Air Force chief of staff General Michael Moseley. [Full Text]
Dr. Jing-dong Yuan is Director of the CNS Education Program at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, and an Associate Professor of International Policy Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
