China developing pre-emptive strike capability: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, Nov 4: China is building a pre-emptive military strike capability on its borders and is developing inter-continental ballistic m...

WASHINGTON, Nov 4: China is building a pre-emptive military strike capability on its borders and is developing inter-continental ballistic missiles ICBMs with a range of upto 12,000 km, a Pentagon report has warned.

China8217;s strategy is to fight with decisive force and tactics to win 8220;a quick military solution8221; of a conflict before outside powers could intervene and vital trade and investment were disrupted, Pentagon said in a report to the US Congress.

The Pentagon warned Congress that Chinese plan is to be 8220;pre-eminent political power in Asia8221; and is directed at 8220;weakening of US political influence in the region.8221;

Beijing hopes to achieve a position where 8220;Asian countries and those with interests in Asia take no action which conflict with China8217;s interests,8221; it said, adding China considers its nuclear weapons and a UN Security Council seat as attributes of being a great power.

The report, a classified document whose 20-page summary was made available to the media, did not indicate thepossible strike targets which China may feel called upon to launch.

The Chinese doctrine, though defensive in nature, requires the People8217;s Liberation Army PLA to possess a limited offensive and force projection capability, including the option of pre-emptive military action, it said.

Beijing is seeking to acquire such force multipliers as mobile ballistic missile systems, land-attack cruise missiles, and advanced surface-to-air missiles.

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Inspired by the US military success in the Gulf war, the PLA has begun a massive modernisation plan aimed at cutting down its strength to 500,000 and acquiring state-of-the-art weapons, Pentagon said.

China8217;s ballistic missile modernisation programme and warhead modernization programme are meant to complement its missile programme, it said, adding Beijing has purchased from Russia two variants of the SA-10/grumble long-range surface-to-air missile system and the SA-15/gauntlet short-range tactical air defence missile system.

The Pentagon said Beijing espouses amultipolar view of the world where power is shared equally among five or six nations or blocs and is engaged in acquiring political clout.

Chinese look forward to achieving a status of parity in economic, political and military strength with the world8217;s leading powers by middle of the next century.

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Beijing envisages, the Pentagon said, 8220;The continued governance of China by the Chinese communist party.8221;

The PLA has shown an exceptional interest in information warfare at the operational and tactical levels of war in recent years and views electronic warfare as the fourth dimension of ground, naval and air combat, it said.

It8217;s seeking to procure state-of-the-art intercept, direction finding and jamming equipment to upgrade its ground- based, shipborne and airborne forces, and has entered close commercial ties with electronic firms abroad, it added.