Yesterday
DOD released its Annual Report on Military and Security Developments Involving
the People’s Republic of China. The report to Congress is divided into a
classified report and an unclassified report. The Unclass part was
released to the public.
One
of you has already asked what I think about the report. It appears long …
about 50 pages – but is much shorter than that … with lots of empty
pages. The Executive Summary of the Report downplays the PRC drive to build a modern force; its 11.2% increase in
defense spending; its cyber activities and hacking into US companies and
government computers; and its drive to take, by force if necessary,
Taiwan. It also does not mention threats made to senior officials and
others to use nuclear weapons on the US and its forces. On the Taiwan
point, the Administration has turned down Taiwan’s request for F-16s to replace its aging F-5 fleet. I also
think the report emphasizes cooperation too much. Here is a quote from
the Executive Summary:
“During their January
2011 summit, President Barack Obama and China’s President Hu Jintao committed
to work together to build a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and
mutual benefit. Within that framework, the U.S. Department of Defense seeks to
build a military-to-military relationship with China that is healthy, stable,
reliable, and continuous. Strengthening the U.S.-China military-to-military
relationship is a part of shaping China’s choices by encouraging it to
cooperate with the United States and its allies and partners in the delivery of
international public goods, including in such endeavors as counter-piracy,
international peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.”
Finally,
there is no recognition of the Chinese debt held by US citizens … that China
refuses to pay. [For reference, see: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/18/149159/chinas-secret-it-owes-americans.html]
You
can find the report at: http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2012_CMPR_Final.pdf
For
your consideration.
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
Posts
3 comments:
We might as well ask ourselves, snuggling closer to that furry pelt, "Does a tiger change its stripes?"
Caution must be our watchword, reference China. That country has too much invested in the USA, in products and services. They already own much of our national debt.
If we're not careful, Chinese characters will be on all those signs in Walmart. When that happens, it's too late.
Interesting, Mr. Dunn makes excellent points around the DoD’s Annual Report on China, one of America’s classical adversaries. However, in the May Air Force Magazine’s Editorial, the AFA is singing the praises of RPA performance in our wars against terror and more than prompting the USAF to absorb this “…revolutionary technology…” What is missing in that editorial, and waht is all too often ignored in Washington? - Any mention of America’s well established classical adversaries, who stand to threaten the very existence of the United States itself and the fact that RPA’s provide little deterrence to them, indeed, if any!
The executive summary reads like the visit Neville Chamberlain made to Adolf Hitler in 1938. Upon his return to the UK he declared, "I believe it is peace for our time."
GN Coleman, USAF, Ret.
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