Skip to main content /WORLD
CNN.com /WORLD
CNN TV
EDITIONS






U.S. concern over China missile build-up

More than 300 missiles are aimed at Taiwan
More than 300 missiles are aimed at Taiwan  


By Andrew Demaria
CNN

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Although China currently lacks the military capability to take and hold Taiwan, the U.S. commander for the Pacific says he is concerned about the missile balance across the Taiwan Strait.

Admiral Dennis C. Blair, the Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Pacific Command, told delegates at a Hong Kong luncheon Thursday that China had accelerated its deployment of missiles which target Taiwan.

"These missiles can cause a great deal of destruction to Taiwan. They cannot make a decisive military difference yet, but if they continue to increase in number and accuracy there'll come a time when they threaten the sufficient defense of Taiwan."

Blair said that more than 300 missiles where aimed at Taiwan but stressed that the military situation there was "more stable than newspapers indicate."

Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province and part of China since they spilt and were governed separately following the communist victory on the mainland in 1949.

China has maintained its intention to reunify with Taiwan under the 'One China policy,' even if it requires war, and has warned that any moves to declare Taiwan independent would be met with force.

'Stable situation'

AUDIO
Admiral Dennis C. Blair speaks about the Taiwan Strait situation.
893K / 1:23 min
WAV sound
 
MORE STORIES
The Philippines: War on terror's second front 
Kissinger warning on U.S.-China ties 
 
 CNN.com Asia
More news from our
Asia edition

 

For its part, Washington's policy is to defend Taiwan in the event of conflict although the exact details of its commitment to the island's security have traditionally been left deliberately ambiguous.

With measured weapons sales and increased capabilities of U.S. forces in the Pacific, Blair said that U.S. ties with Taiwan had ensured a "stable military balance" in the region for the "foreseeable future."

"I believe that on the basis of this stable balance, Taiwan and China's peaceful achievement of one China -- which is the policy of China, the policy of Taiwan and the policy of the United States -- can move forward," Blair said.

However, a peaceful resolution to the one China issue could be threatened by further military build-ups on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, the admiral said.

"We will have the same basic military situation at a higher and higher level of armament which I don't think does a lot of good for anybody and certainly doesn't foster the sort of peaceful resolution of the issues there which we want to maintain," Blair said.

North Korean missiles

A more primary military concern was North Korea, the admiral added, which has missiles capable of hitting U.S. and allied forces within South Korea and Japan.

"As a military commander we are behind the threat in that country," Blair said.

Blair said that the U.S. only has a limited capability to currently deal with the North Korean military threat using the Patriot missile defense system.

But a more advanced anti-missile system was needed, he said, adding that it was now under development.

Blair, who retires from his position next month, was in Hong Kong after visiting U.S. troops in the Philippines involved in a joint military operation against the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf guerilla group.

Second front

Tawian fires a Patriot missile during an anti-missile exercise.  Hundreds of patriots have been deployed around the island
Tawian fires a Patriot missile during an anti-missile exercise. Hundreds of patriots have been deployed around the island  

More than 600 American troops are stationed in the southern Philippines and the U.S. military deployment in its former colony is the biggest in its war against terror campaign since Afghanistan. (Full story)

Blair had considerable praise for the coordination and intelligence sharing by Asia-Pacific nations on suspected terrorist cells or activities, giving special mention to Singapore which broke up a network that allegedly targeted U.S. and other interests in the city-state.

But he was critical of intelligence exchanges with China, which he said must move from a very general understanding from both sides to more specific details.

"Who's getting on an airplane? What name is that person using? When are they arriving here? We haven't achieved that level of intelligence exchange with China," Blair said

"And that's where we have to go in the interests of both countries if we are to beat this common enemy."

"Both sides are coming into it with a lot of historical baggage. That being said, the initial encounters in which we are exchanging intelligence on terrorist activities have been going very well," Blair said.



 
 
 
 






RELATED STORIES:
RELATED SITES:

 Search   

Back to the top