Note from the President: China

AFA members, Congressional staff members, civic leaders, DOCA members, in a note I sent you yesterday [ http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/Notes_8-29-11.pdf ], there was a typo in it.  Operation Allied Force averaged 800 sorties per day as compared to Unified Protector’s 150.  Thankfully, Generals Jumper and Short were not the first to notice the error.  In the past week, there have been lots of news about China.  First, the DOD annual report to Congress on Military and Security Developments in the PRC was released.  There have been news stories about the document, but I thought you’d like to see it … and make up your mind on it.  I sought some experts’ opinion on it; and they thought it parsed the real threat China poses.  One made the point that military doctrine measure threats as:  capability + intent.  PRC capability is … without a doubt … growing.  It just announced it will increase its defense budget by 12.5%; it has two new fighters in development – the J-20 and the J-15.  It has three carriers on the drawing boards, with one undergoing sea trials [and their state media has announced it will be used for “scientific research and training”]; it is building a new ICBM and increasing its nuclear stockpile; it is building counter-carrier ballistic missiles; it continues it efforts to put a man on the moon; it continues to refine its counter space capabilities; and it conducts cyber attacks on the US.  We know the People’s Republic activities worries its neighbors … as Viet Nam has taken delivery of a guided missile frigate and ordered six Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines as well as 12 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 warplanes from Russia.  The Philippines has also purchased a retired US Coast Guard Cutter that has been converted to a surface warship that is being deployed to the Spratley islands -- where they are in a dispute with China over claims.  What the experts noted was that the report down-played China’s intent. You can find the report at:  http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2011_CMPR_Final.pdf For a good article on the report see Bill Gertz’s piece in the Washington Times:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/25/beijing-to-expand-its-nuclear-stockpile/?page=all#pagebreak And … for an extraordinary piece on Chinese cyber attacks, the link below describes a show that appeared on Chinese TV … with B-roll appearing behind it showing a People’s Liberation Army software attack on dissidents through a web site in the US.  See:  http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60619&pop=1&page=0&Itemid Many of you have been following the development of the J-20 … but few have noticed much about the J-15.  A good story appeared on it in the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/world/asia/26fighter.html?ref=china Finally, a good number of you wrote me regarding China’s refusal to pay on the debt owed to US citizens (See:  http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/Notes_8-23-11.pdf)  Now some news agencies have picked up the story.  For example here is one report:  http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/08/26/its-time-for-china-to-pay-its-debts-to-united-states/ For your consideration. Mike Michael M. Dunn President/CEO Air Force Association