China "training for strikes" against US in pacific - Beeb
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China "training for strikes" against US in pacific - Beeb
China's military "is likely training for strikes" against US and allied targets in the Pacific, a Pentagon report warns. The annual report to Congress says China is increasing its ability to send bomber planes further afield. The report highlights its increasing military capability, including defence spending estimated at $190bn (£150bn) - a third that of the US.China has not yet commented on the report.
The warning about air strikes is one part of a comprehensive assessment of China's military and economic ambitions. "Over the last three years, the PLA [People's Liberation Army] has rapidly expanded its overwater bomber operating areas, gaining experience in critical maritime regions and likely training for strikes against US and allied targets," the report says.It goes on to say it is not clear what China is trying to prove by such flights. The People's Liberation Army may demonstrate the "capability to strike US and allied forces and military bases in the western Pacific Ocean, including Guam," the report adds.I
China, it says, is restructuring its ground forces to "fight and win"."The purpose of these reforms is to create a more mobile, modular, lethal ground force capable of being the core of joint operations," the report says.China's military budget is expected to expand to $240bn over the next 10 years, according to the assessment.
It also highlights China's growing space programme "despite its public stance against the militarization of space".
One of the most high-profile areas is the South China Sea, much of it claimed by China and other countries.The document warns that China "is likely preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with China by force". "Should the United States intervene, China would try to delay effective intervention and seek victory in a high-intensity, limited war of short duration," the report says.In a nod to China, the US cut formal ties with Taiwan in 1979 but continues to maintain close political and security ties, which irks Beijing.The US also continues to maintain a substantial military presence in Japan, which has its own territorial disputes with China and the Philippines.Tensions also continue in the non-military sphere. The US and China have announced tariffs on a range of each other's goods.
The Pentagon report is at pains to stress that the US "seeks a constructive and results-oriented relationship with China". There is regular contact between US and Chinese military officials. nd in June, James Mattis became the first US defence secretary to visit China since 2014.
The warning about air strikes is one part of a comprehensive assessment of China's military and economic ambitions. "Over the last three years, the PLA [People's Liberation Army] has rapidly expanded its overwater bomber operating areas, gaining experience in critical maritime regions and likely training for strikes against US and allied targets," the report says.It goes on to say it is not clear what China is trying to prove by such flights. The People's Liberation Army may demonstrate the "capability to strike US and allied forces and military bases in the western Pacific Ocean, including Guam," the report adds.I
China, it says, is restructuring its ground forces to "fight and win"."The purpose of these reforms is to create a more mobile, modular, lethal ground force capable of being the core of joint operations," the report says.China's military budget is expected to expand to $240bn over the next 10 years, according to the assessment.
It also highlights China's growing space programme "despite its public stance against the militarization of space".
One of the most high-profile areas is the South China Sea, much of it claimed by China and other countries.The document warns that China "is likely preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with China by force". "Should the United States intervene, China would try to delay effective intervention and seek victory in a high-intensity, limited war of short duration," the report says.In a nod to China, the US cut formal ties with Taiwan in 1979 but continues to maintain close political and security ties, which irks Beijing.The US also continues to maintain a substantial military presence in Japan, which has its own territorial disputes with China and the Philippines.Tensions also continue in the non-military sphere. The US and China have announced tariffs on a range of each other's goods.
The Pentagon report is at pains to stress that the US "seeks a constructive and results-oriented relationship with China". There is regular contact between US and Chinese military officials. nd in June, James Mattis became the first US defence secretary to visit China since 2014.
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Name a country in the world that is'nt training its military for an eventual war against whatever country it deems to be its natural threat, you would be a fool not too.
I never see anything in the press about the UK training for war against Russia.. odd that.
Exactly the same as Russia does with the incursions to the North of the UK. Testing response and ability to carry out / train for such operations.
Or the US does by overflying the disputed islands, ensuring the rights of free passage and monitoring what is going on..
It's all a bit of none news really to fill copy space.
I never see anything in the press about the UK training for war against Russia.. odd that.
It goes on to say it is not clear what China is trying to prove by such flight
Or the US does by overflying the disputed islands, ensuring the rights of free passage and monitoring what is going on..
It's all a bit of none news really to fill copy space.
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I think it was more or less stopped when we realised that Brexit wouldn't allow us to house all the prisoners in the UK.
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