May.19 (China Military News cited from congressdaily and written by Otto Kreisher) -- U.S. armed services need to develop potentially expensive new capabilities to offset China's rapidly growing capacity to counter America's military advantage in the Western Pacific, but face a "constrained fiscal environment" that will require difficult choices in the future.
Those were the conflicting views presented by two key senators and a panel of defense experts at a Capitol Hill forum Tuesday.
The forum, sponsored by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a Washington-based defense think tank, focused on the AirSea Battle concept that is being developed in an Air Force-Navy study. The two services' leaders launched the study in reaction to the rising concerns that China's extensive military buildup emphasizes "anti-access, area-denial" capabilities that would prevent U.S. forces from intervening in a future conflict over taiwan.
Senate Armed Services Air-Land Subcommittee Chairman Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said the new concept was important because China wants to be capable of not just overcoming U.S. air and naval superiorities, "but making them irrelevant." He cited Beijing's arsenal of hundreds of missiles able to hit U.S. bases and carriers far away and its weapons to disable the communications and spy satellites the United States depends on.
To prevent tensions from escalating into conflict, America must make it clear to its allies and to China "that we are committed to maintaining our capabilities in the Western Pacific," Lieberman said.
But, he added, this commitment will be hindered by the nation's "constrained fiscal environment." Lieberman quoted recent warnings from Defense Secretary Robert Gates that the large post-9/11 increase in defense spending could not be sustained.
"Those are not hollow words," Lieberman said, noting that they come when the Navy is struggling to build the fleet and strike fighter force it needs.
"Like it or not, there are difficult decisions we'll have to make," he said.
Air-Land Subcommittee ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., shared those concerns, noting that while the military has been focusing on relatively low-tech battles in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a significant high-tech battle emerging to counter China's capabilities.
A key weapon to do that, he said, is the new long-range strike capability that the Air Force is seeking. With a B-1B bomber wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base in his state, Thune has made long-range strike his major defense issue.
A detailed study on the AirSea Battle concept released by CSBA on Tuesday also cited as a priority better long-range strike capabilities, which could include conventionally armed intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Another priority would be to counter China's vast missile arsenal by "blinding" its ability to target U.S. carriers at long range. That could require destroying China's spy satellites.
Those are highly controversial ideas, strongly opposed by organizations against militarizing space and by Russian officials and arms control advocates who fear the launch of a conventionally armed ICBM could trigger a nuclear retaliation.
June 13th, 2010 at 4:36 am
The PLA are upgrading not to challenge the US but rather to make sure in the event of taiwan war the US wont be able to park its ac in the Taiwan st and launch tomahawk missiles on Chinese cities like in Iraq.The days of gunboat diplomacy are about to end soon.Yes the US can prevail.In 1996 two US ac intimidated the Chinese. FF to 2010 if the US did the same thing the ac will be destroyed.What if the Chinese navy send ac/sampans/ submarines/destroyers near to LA? What would the US do ? Destroy them of course. You cannot do to others what you dont want others to do to you. It helps if you are strong.
The PLA aint strong but it can fight back and cause significant damage unlike the last 160 years right up to the early twenties.In the long run Taiwan will have to go back to China. I know technology can can change things and US laser beams/lightning rods/unseen missiles/stealth bombs/rockets can restore US immunity.The Chinese aint standing still and will develop the necessary weapons to close the gap on damage limitation.
June 19th, 2010 at 2:01 am
So some senators are asking the pentagon to increase nw and aim at China.This is a foolish endeavour.If you have more nw,the PLa will also increase their nw.so the US better stop dreaming of the heady days of the 50s when US nuclear blackmail intimidated the Chinese.
The Chinese aint going to coerce the US but will make it plain that any na on China whether from Guam/korea/Japan will require similar Chinese response on the origins of attack and the conus.Bush siad the US wont be intimidated. History will tell it s the US that has nuclear blackmailed countless countries.
Ff to June 2010,if the us were to hit China with nw.the Chinese can similarly inflict like punishment. As the Christans have a saying do not do to others what you don't want them to do to you.
June 19th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
The US economy is unable to compete. The only recourse is a war to revitalise it. This was what was recommended by a Rand report.However it aint as simple as that.If it is a poor ,defenceless country like Vietnam/kososvo then all bets are off. This is because the Pentagon will initiate a war with minimum casualties and an exit strategy in weeks rather than months/years.That is why don't bet against the US attacking Iran who have even been prevented from buying dedensive weapons.
According to Gates, Iran can rain hundreds if not thousands of missiles on Europe. This is sheer fabrication of facts.Iran has only missiles for defence.The US has tens of thousands of nm to attack other countries.Now having the UN mandate for sanctions,the next step is to stage an incident in the persian
gulf.
A US sailor,retired of course,said the 1964 Tonkin gulf incident was provoked to goad the NV into retaliation. Johnson then got Congressional backing to start the Vietnam war.The US public better be careful of US politicians who will use their sons and daughters to start a war.
The Gulf of Omuz and Taiwan are flash points. A Pentagon spokesman will announce that US ships were attacked in these waters.To defend freedom of the seas and
protect US personnel the US had to attack these countries. With China it is a different scenario. The PLA can retaliate which US forces are not used to.That will start a chain reaction . The US president will do whatever it takes to defend US interest ie.start a war.