Home » Air » Gates Wary of China’s Military Buildup

Gates Wary of China’s Military Buildup

By John Reed Friday, January 28th, 2011 2:54 pm
Posted in Air, International, Policy

Defense Secretary Robert Gates today warned that the United States must be vigilant in light of a rapidly advancing Chinese military despite efforts to improve relations between the two countries.

“Even as the United States pursues a more constructive relationship with China, we and our allies cannot ignore the Chinese military’s recent advances in missiles, space and cyber warfare,” said Gates during a U.S. Strategic Command change of command ceremony at Offutt Air Force Base, in Nebraska.

This isn’t the first time Gates has suggested that the U.S. needs to monitor China’s military modernization very closely. The Defense Secretary and other top U.S military officials have repeatedly said they do not know the true purpose of a Chinese military buildup that appears aimed at checking U.S. power in the pacific. To some, Gates’ budget plans unveiled earlier this month seemed aimed at countering many of the threats being developed by China.

Gates also hinted that the Air Force’s nuclear enterprise is getting back to its “place of honor” even while warning of an increasingly challenging strategic environment in terms of space, cyberspace and nuclear security issues.

“Chili has led the way in reforming the management of reforming the nuclear enterprise, overseeing [the standup] of Air Force Global Strike Command, providing more training for our nuclear airmen and restoring the nuclear mission to its proper place of honor,” said Gates.

He was praising outgoing STRACOM chief Gen. Kevin Chilton who was replaced today by former Air Force Space Command Boss Gen. Robert Kehler.

Kehler said during the ceremony that under his watch the command must maintain the ability to provide “a safe, secure effective and ready nuclear deterrent force,” support to combat ops around the globe, “uninterrupted capabilities from space and improve awareness of objects and activities in space” and enhance the nation’s cyber security and ensure joint support for cyber activities.”

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	Taxpayer January 28th, 2011 at 3:04 pm U.S. strategic forces and capabilities are bloated and should take a big hit. Why support 5,000 warheads and delivery vehicles (bombers, missiles, ballistic missile submarines) when we’ll never use more than a dozen in any conceivable scenario. (Otherwise, we’re all dead!) Cut STRATCOM’s forces by 80 percent and save us taxpayers some serious money.
	bob22 January 28th, 2011 at 3:44 pm Spoken like a true traitor. Hey, let’s unilaterally disarm! You probably aren’t even an American.
	@Earlydawn January 28th, 2011 at 3:58 pm What’s wrong with his statement? I’d rather see 100 modernized ICBMs and a robust satellite network instead of five-hundred missiles that are redundant in our nuclear targeting strategy. If it’s not necessary, then it’s waste.
	William C. January 28th, 2011 at 4:35 pm Remember that an individual MIRV counts as individual warheads in such treaties. Thus 2,500 warheads doesn’t mean all that many missiles. Going any lower would be foolish.
	Drake1 January 28th, 2011 at 4:40 pm How about we monitor our over 19 trillion debt– which China among others happens to hold.
	CharlesHouston January 28th, 2011 at 5:19 pm Spoken like a guy who knows nothing about our actual forces. Some aircraft in the boneyard are still counted — not all of the “forces” that people talk about are actually operational — they don’t cost too much.
	freefallingbomb January 28th, 2011 at 5:32 pm To the poster “bob22” You wrote: “Spoken like a true traitor.” What’s the fatherland of a corrupt U.S. general who helps the military-industrial complex to steal safely from his own Defense budget? What kind of patriot (uniformed or not) drains budget money away from FUNDAMENTAL , civilian programs to USELESS military programs, thereby reducing the prosperity and destabilizing the social structure of his country? Like investing in two lost wars and in nation-building in the Mountains of Doom, but building no border wall and not nearly enough prisons at home, etc., etc.? Don’t you know what the limit for parasitism is, generally, biologically speaking? It is: Killing the host! THAT’S what your favourite “patriots” are doing to their own country, no less!
	Vitesse et Puissance January 28th, 2011 at 6:07 pm We need to get back to the idea of deterrence and stop calling weapons systems that do their job in peacetime “wasted assets”. Just having a big stick means that you will have to use it less often — a very good thing where weapons of mass destruction are concerned. China is just at the beginning of its ascent to world power. Not all of that is threatening to US interests, but some of it is a threat. We need to ante up and stay in the game.
	reandom 2500 January 28th, 2011 at 7:19 pm We need the extra warheads and redundancy because we haven’t tested a warhead since around 1992, and many have service lives and critical component lives in the decades long than there original service live by far. Furthermore in all of our testing we have never tested the same warhead twice. Bottom-line the redundancy in targeting is nice if you get a fizzle.
	dewright_ca January 28th, 2011 at 9:04 pm Do we really need to be afraid of a country that has to steal footage of ‘Top Gun’ for national PR? Now its good to see they kept it to mainstream… If they were trying to pawn off ‘Iron Eagle’ footage then I am sure they would have picked up on the exploding Mirage/Kfir versus the F-5.
	BradM January 28th, 2011 at 9:36 pm Perhaps SecDef Gates is rethinking his decision to cancel the F-22 fighter? Considering all the problems the F-35 is having at the moment as well. Whats the normal Air Force squadron number? 24 planes in a squadron?
	Bronco46 January 28th, 2011 at 9:56 pm We all need to remember that the top function of the government is to protect the country from foreign powers. This includes projecting power around the world to assure the flow world trade.
	Bronco46 January 28th, 2011 at 9:59 pm We can only hope he does find a way to get congress to fund more F-22’s and find a way to get the problems with the F-35 resolved and then into production with no cut in numbers.
	BradM January 28th, 2011 at 10:05 pm At the minimum keep the F-22 line open and buy one or two squadrons a year until the next Administration comes to power and can reassess the final number. 24–48 planes a year for 2011 and 2012. Then let the next Admin decide if we should do more than that until 2020.
	Josh January 28th, 2011 at 10:06 pm What’s there to be worried about? After all China is passing off Top Gun footage as an Air Force exercise where they shot down a plane… http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/28/china-t…
	Byron Skinner January 28th, 2011 at 10:09 pm Good Evening Folks, Here we go again, China’s Military build up. What Build up? Could someone please put evidence down that is conclusive that the PRC is expanding it’s military and behaving in an aggressive manner. Please spare us the cr– from the Heritage Foundation and like minded lobbyist for the defense industry. In his recent book The Great Wall at Sea, Second Edition. Professor Bernard D. Cole looks for that build up and simply can’t find it. What we have with an imaginary Chinese Military build up is no different the Cold War Missile Gap, Bomber Gap, Tank Gap etc. All of these so called Gaps between the Soviet Union were not true, the politicians knew but kept telling the public as such just to expand Defense Spending. Until some hard evidence of a Chinese military build up can be presented, all I can see is the same thing happening here. This is just the defense industry creating demand for weapons and platform that are not needed, serve no useful purpose and are costing the taxpayers a fortune. The first time shame on the arms merchants, the second time shame on the politicians. What’s interesting here is the politics being playing. Texas politics Sec.Gates wants to see that large L/M plant in Dallas humming with F-35 orders. What’s good for American is not necessary good for Sec. Gates and Texas. ALLONS, Byron Skinner
	Bronco46 January 28th, 2011 at 10:28 pm We all need to remember that the top function of the government is to protect the country from foreign powers. Since the end of World War ll, this includes projecting power around the world to assure the flow world trade.
	@Earlydawn January 28th, 2011 at 10:36 pm You are focusing on quantity, when you should be focusing on quality. Our Minutemen are antique. Cutting the missile force by a third in order to modernize the survivors is a perfectly fine trade-off. Tactical nukes are the only warheads that have a chance to be utilized without a new world order anyway.
	@Earlydawn January 28th, 2011 at 10:38 pm What is the scenario that you envision in which an F-22 is engaging Chinese fighters? The Pacific is a bomber and stand off weapon battle.
	@Earlydawn January 28th, 2011 at 10:41 pm To play devil’s advocate, you only need to be able to secure sea lanes (Navy) and project power into geographic chokepoints (Marines) to ensure continuity of trade. U.S. strength is way out of scale with these objectives.
	William C. January 29th, 2011 at 12:41 am A quick glance at the rapid increase in PRC defense spending over the last decade should tell you something. Their army continues to transition from old Soviet designs to newer indigenous developments in everything from tanks to small arms. Their air force is in the process of replacing outdated MiG clones with newer fighters like the J-10 and the J-11. Meanwhile their next generation of fighters like the J-20 in the works. The fact that many of these developments are based off of Russian and American work doesn’t make them any less of a potential threat. Meanwhile they are still moving slowly but steadily towards developing a real blue water navy. All across the board the PLA isn’t just a force that will be relying on sheer numbers anymore. And I hate to admit it but there was indeed a tank gap during the Cold War. The ridiculously high number of tanks the Soviets were building can attest to that. Indeed Sec. Gates wants to see that, and if the F-35 is that successful I imagine the program’s problems will have been fixed. But regardless of if whether or not the F-35 is that aircraft rolling off the production lines, we still need new fighters. And even with more F-22s we need something rather cheaper to replace our large F-16 fleet. The Chinese are not an enemy today and nobody wants to fight them, yet international relations can change fast. I don’t know why you act like such a Chinese apologist at times but your clearly ignoring all of the signs here. The Chinese want and will have a greater influence on world affairs, and part of that includes a much strengthened military on their part. We don’t need to match them man for man, but we can’t let them leave us in the dust from a technological or capability standpoint.
	William C. January 29th, 2011 at 1:04 am There are plenty of other factors to consider when it comes to the health of our nation as well. While we may be designing the best aircraft and computer processors the Chinese can catch up all too easily when they are building many of the components of those. We don’t need any more of our industrial and technological sector to move over there and part of that includes the defense industry. The defense industry is just as guilty as everybody else when it comes to this trend, but driving those companies out of business won’t improve matters either. Giving these companies nothing to work on, which simultaneously lets our military decay in the process will cause only more problems in the long term. I’m not trying to make excuses for the corruption and waste that occurs, yet look around the rest of the economy, we can reduce such things but some is unavoidable. Whatever corporations you dislike, be them Microsoft or Lockheed, IBM or General Electric; are necessary evils and part of the way business works.
	Bronco46 January 29th, 2011 at 1:14 am From your lips to God’s ears. And even that may be enough to deal with the threat from China. We will have to revisit BMD one day soon.
	Threat January 29th, 2011 at 2:38 am America isn’t satisfied about spending $730 billion on her military (excluding $1.1 trillion already spent for Iraq/Afghanistan since 2001). China’s military budget is tiny in comparison, just $70-$150 billion dollars. China’s military budget can barely run America’s military for 1.5 months.…
	LOL January 29th, 2011 at 2:41 am America is never going to invade North Korea. Period. With the new revelations about China’s stealth fighter and DF-21 “carrier killer” missile, I highly doubt America will intervene against PRC in her invasion of ROC.
	Jrod January 29th, 2011 at 6:29 am How can he say to cut the US warhead capability. Does he really knows the amount of warheads China has or the secret weapons they have. I do think we should try to have good relations with them but maintaining our weapons up to date if a worst case scenario happens, we can respond.
	CharlesHouston January 29th, 2011 at 10:22 am The Chinese have far, far, far, fewer roles — they are a local power only. The US military responds to every part of the world, probably spends more in relief supplies than China spends for it’s air force. When was the last time you saw the Chinese military delivering supplies to people who had survived a tsunami or earthquake?
	Cocidius January 29th, 2011 at 10:46 am You mean like this??? http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2010/04/rescuer…
	freefallingbomb January 29th, 2011 at 10:56 am To the poster “reandom 2500” You wrote: “Furthermore in all of our testing we have never tested the same warhead twice.” During the 47 years, 2 months and 7 days between the 1) 16.7.1945 ( = the famous “Manhattan Project” / “Trinity” test at Alamogordo) and the 2) 23.9.1992 ( = the last U.S. American nuclear weapons test) the U.S.A. carried out a total of 1.054 experimental nuclear explosions (Hiroshima and Nagasaki not included. They aren’t listed in the category of tests). So, are you saying that the U.S.A. developed more than 1.054 (2.108 ?) different warhead models?! Funny, that’s even more tests and more different warhead models than the number of warheads which the U.S.A. are allowed to have today (1.550) under the 2010 New Start Treaty! Zonk???!
	momomimamo January 29th, 2011 at 11:12 am china have thousands billion dollars in one coffer, if they open it for build one army … the price of one chinese workers and one american was not similar USA give 150bn for def acquisition, if china give 1000bn $ for one massive rearmament, they can without problem, USA reduce all economy, in def to, china growth years after years everywhere. In 10 years china progressed to the 6th economic power to the 2. Every know the china will be the first power in 2030 or few later. They don’t have one debt, and they have one great part of US debt (more than 1000bn$) China is the future, the great leadership of USA was over, that’s difficult to imagine that, for people who have only know that, but that’s the reality. Don’t forget china have 1.5bn people. Only one big social event can destroy the power of china
	Cocidius January 29th, 2011 at 11:20 am Now William, stop trying to talk sense to Byron. That’s a nice safe alternate reality he’s living in, he’s found his happy place.… http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3wZSwFvZzqM/THMJCx6dlvI…
	CharlesHouston January 29th, 2011 at 11:29 am Way to go — answer not the intent of the question but give enough of a partial answer to appear to have answered the question! OK, the intent seemed obvious — the US responds to tsunamis in Indonesia, floods in Pakistan, earthquakes in Haiti. China apparently tries to respond to earthquakes inside of (what they claim as) their country. Not at all the same. The US military budget has contingency money to respond to disasters all around the world, is China ready to help out all over the world? No. I think they do help out in Africa — in countries that they have economic interests in. Now I am not saying that we are right and they are wrong — I am just responding to one part of “why is the US military budget so much larger than China’s”. Had Cocidius really wanted to answer the question they would have caveated their note, as many people do, with “of course this is inside of China” or similar.
	CharlesHouston January 29th, 2011 at 11:34 am As we saw in the Soviet Union, when it came apart, former Communist countries seem to go thru a political change and an economic change — they must be somewhat overlapping but are not the same event. China appears to be trying to develop economically without political change. As more people are economically empowered — will they demand a voice in the future of the country? Likely so. China very likely has wrenching political changes ahead of them — as the ruling elite is forced to share power. If that will result in democratic rule is still to be seen.
	theman January 29th, 2011 at 11:43 am Apparently we always need some sort of enemy. The primary bone of contention between the US and China has to do with China’s internal policies (currency manipulation, human rights, intellectual property rights). In terms of free trade and world stability, China and the U.S. pretty much see eye-to-eye. Say what you want about North Korea, Burma, or Iran, China’s first objective is stability. It is looking to raise the living standard of hundreds of millions of people, and has little to gain by usurping America’s place as number one. Hegemony is too much trouble.
	Maryam Choufany January 29th, 2011 at 12:02 pm Good Day to every one,as wiese man says:Building today is better than futur,deviding the projects between the reliable contractores and having them to build together, is better than competing negativly,and not putting all the eggs in one basket and blaiming after.…truely yours
	JOSEPH DIGGS January 29th, 2011 at 12:27 pm AMERICA is the greatest country in the world and as a “RETIRED AFRICAN AMERICAN” WHO SERVED 21YRS. IN THE US,ARMY CAN SAY THAT WITHOUT RESERVATION. MY POINT IS CHINA IS UP TO NO GOOD BECAUSE ONE CAN ASK THE “QUESTION” WHY ARE THEY BUILDING SUCH A HUGH MILITARY? GOD GAVE PEOPLE LIKE THE SECY, OF DEFENSE BILL GATES THE INSIGHT AND KNOWLEDGE TO BE VIGILANT AND SO IT IS WE AS AMERICANS MUST SEE THE MESSAGE AND DISCONTINUE OUR POLICE ACTIONS AROUND THE WORLD. THE WORD “SMART” GOD PLACED IT IN THE “DICTIONARY” JUST AFTER “IGNORANCE AND JUST BEFORE “STUPID” THE WORD “SMART” RESINATES AND IF WE AS A PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT THEN WE CAN PREVAIL AGAINST ANYBODY OR COUNTRY..
	Cocidius January 29th, 2011 at 2:35 pm I’m not trying to be rude, but I want you to to “think” before making the kind broad statements like did in your original comment. Do I think that Chinese military now is directly comparable to the US? No, rather I see rapidly growing capabilities that many here in the US either don’t understand or have ignored, and yes they are participating in many overseas exercises and operations all over the world now. Below you draw comparisons between the old Soviet Union and today’s modern China which seems more based on preconceived opinions rather then facts. Modern China is NOT the Soviet Union. While they certainly have a communist party in charge, the economy actually looks more like a hybrid capitalist western nation in many ways then the old Soviet bloc. The exportation of high technology manufacturing to China by western companies has created a huge growing economic and industrial base which is now rivaling the US in many ways. While I agree that at some point that the Chinese Government will have to allow more personal freedom to its citizens, that doesn’t mean that the average person in the street is not immensely proud of their country. Getting back to military issues, I continue to see a disconnect between whats actually being developed and implemented by the Chinese military, and long term US military strategy. While I’ve been critical of Mr. Gates in the past, his recent comments seem to indicate that he’s finally grasping the situation, and this is better late then never.
	Byron Skinner January 29th, 2011 at 2:44 pm Good Morning Folks, To Brinco46. Since the US is a capitalist country I have to assume that Adam Smith’s description of what governments function is. From his Glasgow Lectures of November 1774 to March of 1775 Adam states that the role of government is to “Protect the rich from the poor.” Interesting nobody can identify any military build up on the part of China. I tend to agree with the Lt. Col. Max really didn’t think much about government and like Adam Smith he felt that in function was to protect capital. Our only model of the collapse of a Communists Government is of course the Soviet Union which appear to have been the result of the structural decay of the economy over a period of 35 years. Is the PRC in the same process? What the Lt. Col. seems to be saying might be the case. The PLA is splintering with the change over of power. The younger officers who are taking control from elders who are not ready to relinquish it becoming very apparent. I will have more this in a future Daily Teaspoon. The secular government so seems to be just a show for the US and Europe it has very little if any influence on what is taking place in the PRC. The great Chinese economy appears like the old Soviet Economy as little more then smoke and mirrors. In short don’t believe all those great economic numbers that seem to be to good to be true, they are not. ALLONS, Byron Skinner
	Maryam Choufany January 29th, 2011 at 3:22 pm hellllllow my felow Americans we make the future,FINE , make it at the best ‚with all the respect to every ones knowledge in real history , we can see the old receipe is not working, all over are new generation on the street ‚but not us, we can come to a round table and see better future, Now is very sensitive time for every body .NOOOone knew 25 years ago ayatolla’s will have nukkkk let’s face it.
	Maryam Choufany January 29th, 2011 at 3:49 pm we have to remember chinese are exploringgggg the URANIUM Mountains in sepidaran next to teheran city in karage since 1992,
	Maryam Choufany January 29th, 2011 at 4:06 pm After my tripe to iran obviousky the tavarishes are there .and runnnnning the show inside the mask of ayyatolla’s , free gas and oil ‚LOOOK at it iran putin and china pluuuus the oil is in Baku iran and saudiarabia what a interesting triangle.
	Maryam Choufany January 29th, 2011 at 4:15 pm Laitly all the X info are calllled back to have jobs oversease. Is very interesting TIME, WE need suez canal WHO better than GENERALS.Respected by the Volks and Loyal to us
	Oblat January 29th, 2011 at 6:01 pm Even the Chinese agree the China’s GDP figures are wrong so The Economist did some calculations several using reliable secondary indicators and found that indeed they are out by about 4%. But that is plus 4%. Turns out the provinces have been under-reporting the GDP figures to please the central government who are concerned with the economy overheating. Anyone who travels around the US and China will notice quite quickly which country is in decay and which has all the new infrastructure.
	jimjim January 29th, 2011 at 8:15 pm Once again BS Byron supports his Chicomm/Osbama administration masters.…
	adam January 29th, 2011 at 8:19 pm Gates may be “wary” of the Chicomms but this brings joy to Barry Hussien obama and his regime of Maoist sycophants as they see America as the Problem. weaken America for the Progressive cause continues at full tilt…
	joan January 29th, 2011 at 8:22 pm Leave it to BS byron to use the Leftist revisionist history answer to the downfall of the USSR which completely ignores President Reagan’s strategy. Surprise he did not give Kudos to Gorbachev for his “enlightened” decision to go quietly into the good night. Byron needs to leave the media Matters basement and get a real job… .
	Byron Skinner January 29th, 2011 at 9:50 pm Good Evening Folks, I would love for somebody to document any role President Reagan had with the collapse of the Soviet Union. So far none has been provided. As regarding China I’m still waiting where is the military build up other then in the vivid imaginations of those peculiar institutions of right wing think tanks and the Butternuts that support them. I do notice that respect for the President is not something the children of the right learned from their mothers. The fact that President Obama is the best president of the 21st. Century I guess bothers some losers. ALLONS, Byron Skinner
	William C. January 29th, 2011 at 9:57 pm Byron the fact that you choose to close your eyes doesn’t mean that there is no Chinese military buildup. Just compare their military today to what it was 20 years ago. Their modernization plans are very clear, the PLA doesn’t want to be seen on the same level as (for example) the North Koreans anymore.
	William C. January 29th, 2011 at 10:10 pm Now a completely random attack on President Reagan’s legacy? That and the ostrich act when it comes to China is getting rather frustrating Byron. You speak of respect for the President? Where was the respect shown for George W. Bush? Even you must know how hypocritical you lefties sound. Obama is the best President of the 21st century? By what standard? Obama is probably a good person at heart but he is not a good national leader. An extreme version of Jimmy Carter IMO.
	Byron Skinner January 29th, 2011 at 11:41 pm Good Evening Folks, It seems that Sec. Gates like conservative America is rather in total disconnect on a Chinese build up. Since nobody can show any, I will give you the Facts. Since the year 2000: The PLAN has fewer hulls in the water Frigate or bigger and fewer submarines. The Romeos and Mings since the 361 accident have been taken out of service. There is only about 50 boats of all kinds. SSBN’s two Type 094’s in storage with leaking reactors and one Xia that is take out for parades. The Chinese have bought 14 Kilo’s and 12 are at the dock unmanned and waiting for service by the Russian builder. It is unlikely that the CCP would put any nuclear weapons to sea in an SSBN under the command of a senior captain. So the SSBN’s are just for show. The PLAF: With the retirement of all J-7’s and older fighter what is left is about a 100 old Soviet Su.27’s, Su-30 and Su-33’s The J-8’s (300), J-9 (?) J-10–11 (120) and 12’s (?) are at least for now out of service pending delivery of Russian engines. Russia reactivated the Chines order for 100 jet engines in November 2010. The PLA ground forces. The Chinese have shed over a million men for the active PLA. The non military PAP have increased for 500k to some where between 1.5 and 2 million men and have take over all of the Coast Guard, Border Patrol and other law enforcement duties from the PLAN and are current working with the USCG to form an organization. Nuclear weapons. Between 80 and 120 all in Beijing MD disassembled and stored at five locations with the sixth location being assembly by the 2nd. Artillery Corp. Missiles: Ballistic and Cruise. Exact numbers are unknown but estimated at a total of about 1,500. In short there is no military build up in China and in fact since 2000 the opposite has happened. ALLONS, Byron Skinner
	Roland January 30th, 2011 at 1:36 am I think in order to take a stand on any threat, we should first find a solution on reducing the national dept or paying off the national dept. The national dept of 14 trillion dollars had cause the country to have a deficits and recession as a result. The recession causes unemployment, buget problems, unemployment, and security concerns.
	William C. January 30th, 2011 at 2:36 am Byron the Xia class is the older model of Chinese SSBN introduced in the early 1980s. Only two are believed to have been built. The Jin class is the more recent model with several boats in production. The Chinese SSBN force is currently rather weak, but in a decade it is likely to be significantly more capable. In a decade after that… who knows. You look at current assets #s and dismiss the PLAN, but look at programs currently in development and entering production. Consider their submarine development. The Chinese are steadily moving away from their old generation of equipment like the old Romeo class submarine to a new generation of indigenous designs supplemented by more recent Russian submarines which will undoubtedly be used to further their own submarine program. The same applies for much of the PLA. Stop looking at what the Chinese have today and tomorrow. Look at the modernization of the PLA since the 1990s and consider how their defense spending has rapidly increased. At this rate, in a decade we will be looking at a much more intimidating force. The PRC wants an increased say in global affairs. This includes a significantly more capable military and they are steadily making progress towards that. We need to understand and accept this rather than pretend this won’t happen. At the same time there is no reason to panic or make stupid decisions. We have to work with the Chinese but at the same time we need to invest in research, development, and procurement today to maintain our edge into the future. Expecting the same 30 year old F-15s, Bradleys, and etc. to serve indefinitely won’t work. Gates has made mistakes but wanting us to watch China’s military modernization closely isn’t one of them. They aren’t working on anti-ship ballistic missile to sink Somalian pirate boats, they want to match us.
	momomimamo January 30th, 2011 at 10:18 am one missile can destroy one aircraft carrier and his 50 high fighters (china have build one specially for destroy aircraft carrier).USA have 12 of them, 10 in future (certainly), without these aircraft carrier USA lose 75% of their power of intervention. If china control the see, and protect these ship with 2000 aircraft not “hi tech”, i’m sure the great power of USA can’t make really much except the nuclear power. Just imagine if country like corea and iran can have these missile and use then on aircraft carrier.…china was “friend” with them and can change the power of then.This is things like that who was dangerous, not one compare of the number of the planes or others numbers tanks, ships…
	WarPony January 30th, 2011 at 12:07 pm Yea right – no prc buildup … eufrrprc (Eurpean Union/ Federation of Fedarlists Republics and People’s Republic of China) is on the way –WWIII: and, China (who wants Taiwan!) is birthing a deepwater navy. Here’s your proof: “China speeds plans to launch aircraft carrier: sources” http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/12/23/us-chin… “China Trying to Buy British Aircraft” http://bigpeace.com/pschweizer/2011/01/08/is-chin… “ China’s ‘carrier killer?” http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/17/wi… … prc has frr support – and, its’ deep-water navy — and they perform joint military/naval exercises to boot. EU is the banksters — with their plan for a NWO– showa a historythe most major wars were financed by for conquest for world domination. Maybe the f22 isn’t the answer with UAVs that can pull 15 g’s, but give Gates the benefit of the doubt. I’m sure he has more accurate intel than most.
	WarPony January 30th, 2011 at 12:08 pm Correction: EU is the banksters — with their plan for a NWO– shows a history that most major wars were financed for their of world domination. Maybe the f22 isn’t the answer with UAVs that can pull 15 g’s, but give Gates the benefit of the doubt. I’m sure he has more accurate intel than most.
	superraptor January 30th, 2011 at 12:21 pm I admit I voted for President Obama, but I think he will be one of the most irrelevant presidents we ever had. He does not stand up for things he believes in. He punted on a single payer health care system and health care cost continue to spiral out of control. Fiscal responsibility? Forget it. The dollar is at risk of defaulting quite soon given extremely high spending and insufficient tax revenue. Why not increasing the social security tax and medicare taxes if it helped to avert a financial crisis? National Security? Forget it. The F-22 was cancelled so that we can plow 380 billion dollars into the already outdated F-35. Several hundred F-22s plus updated legacy fighters plus stealthy UAVs would help keep America safe at a lower cost compared to the F-35 program. And START was negotiated with the wrong nation. We are dismantling ICBMs while China is building new ones with 10 MIRVs each. Hopefully conservative democrats like me will wake up and not re-elect him in 2012.
	guest January 30th, 2011 at 2:53 pm HEY BS: Victory: The Reagan Administration’s Secret Strategy That Hastened the Collapse of the Soviet Union http://www.amazon.com/Victory-Administrations-Str…
	jamesmccarther January 30th, 2011 at 2:57 pm You have to EARN respect byron (BS). Little Barry deserves no respect. His (an now your) hatred of America continues without even a fig leaf. Do you attent J Wright’s “GD America” Black liberation “church too???
	guest January 30th, 2011 at 2:58 pm Glad you learned from your mistake.… Too bad BS byron is to thick headed to see reality too…
	guest January 30th, 2011 at 3:00 pm How ablut we cut welfare to good for nothing obama voters like BS byron skinner before we unilaterally diarm ourselves???
	Byron Skinner January 30th, 2011 at 3:07 pm Good Morning Folks, Now that the argument of a military build up is trashed as pure Butternut fiction, now the worry is the unpredictable future. Since the future is yet to happen this is safe harbor for the right wing. What is becoming better understood about China is power transition and some bad signs are coming out of China. The next generation as seen by President Hu are civilians that have little or no experience of serving in the PLA and din’t have any part the the events of the 1960’s (The cultural Revolution and The Great Leap Forward) that defined Maoism. I’m not even sure they are even technocrats, since a forth force is developing along with the CCP, PLA, and the secular government in PRC politics, that is the academics. It’s still early to tell what is happening but if one looks at the Mandarin definition of the word it might shed some light. This idea will be explored in more depth on a future Daily Teaspoon. The message here to those peculiar institutions of winger thing tanks watch China from the inside and pay less attention to you fantasies. Speaking of winger tanks. The Heritage Foundation, a sponsor of mili.com and the buzz, expressed there feelings over a fortnight ago when it declined to attend the CPAC. Conservative Political Action Conference with a statement by a spokeswoman for Heritage that said: “Heritage Foundation members won’t attend the CPAC Convention in DC because gay Republicans are attending.” She went on to say: “Conservatives and homosexuals can not coexist in a movement predicated on family values.” She continued: “Organizations whose whole reason for existence is to promote the forced public affirmation of homosexual conduct should not be welcomed in the CPAC. Quotes are from the LA Times January 8, 2011. These “official statements” by a Heritage Foundation Spokeswoman should be brought to the attention of the Attorney General of the United States, Heritages Foundation should be disqualified for doing any business with the United States Government, their representatives should be stopped for entering secured government property. These statements clearly are covered by US Code that addresses Hate Crimes. Heritage Foundation is clearly a private organization that practices discrimination against a protected group of Americans. By US Code they are prohibited for doing business with the United States Government. ALLONS, Byron Skinner
	William C. January 30th, 2011 at 3:33 pm Byron, just because you say something does not make it true. Don’t they teach that in school? Ignore it if you will but there is a Chinese military build-up acting like one of their diplomats doesn’t change that. Indeed the latest Chinese political and military leaders aren’t veterans of Mao’s endeavors which is part of the reason why they have a different vision for their country and military. They aren’t interested in “perfecting” communism or anything like that from the days of Mao. They want to be a superpower like ourselves. The moonbat left’s dismissal of Chinese long-term goals and interests won’t do anything to create a more friendly relationship. We both need to recognize our respective interests and goals. While it is in their best interests to keep trading with us, they clearly want to have the edge over us militarily if they ever need it. Now this completely random attack on the Heritage Foundation not only has no place in this discussion but is false. They have every right to make such a statement and not attend such a conference if certain invited groups have radically different views. This statement is clearly not hate speech. Their right to state their opinion on this matter is also protected under the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. Something you lefties only care about when it is in your best interest it seems. In fact this entire homosexuality issue, from this from DADT is completely pointless outside of the political parties who use it for their gain, the interests of everybody else be damned. In fact you’ve made this same weak argument against the Heritage Foundation in the past during your ongoing little grudge with them. Did they fire you from a job or something? They have the same rights to exist and go about their business as left-wing think tanks which are also featured on DoDBuzz when they discuss military matters.
	Robert January 30th, 2011 at 3:37 pm What does being an african american have to do with anything? Also how about turning off your caps.
	Cocidius January 30th, 2011 at 11:18 pm Do you remember last year when Byron stated that the ex-Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag was going to be a float casino? And that was after photos circulated all over the internet of it sitting in dry dock obviously being outfitted as a carrier. At this point it’s quite apparent that Byron wears “personal” blinders when it comes to China’s rapidly developing military.
	Oblat January 31st, 2011 at 4:16 am >“Conservatives and homosexuals can not coexist in a movement predicated on family values.” Except for those hot toe tapping trysts in the toilets of course.
	GrassHopper4 January 31st, 2011 at 8:52 am Taiwan has alway’s been an issue and Phase II of the “Chess Game” has begun. Now is the time for the Obama Administration to appoint Colin Powell as Secretary of Defense upon Sec. Gates ending tenure of office. The Bush Administration and Rumsfeld failed to realize that “Less is not Better”..ala..multiple increases in forces during the Iraq War and Afghanistan. China has watched the U.S. “hollow out” it’s land fighting force with 10 years of “Highly Dysfunctional Optempo”. Our Air Force has also seen personnel and procurement cuts over the last 10 years. The most dangerous belief and concept that “Urban Warfare” is here to stay is farthest from the truth.__China, Iran and North Korea..all holders of large land armies stand as potential “game changers” who will require the U.S. once again to focus on Conventional Warfare and the buildup of a strong, rested and capable Army with Air and Naval support ready and functional.. The Secretaries concern is not without merit.
	War Pony January 31st, 2011 at 9:32 am Check out eufrrprc: (European Union, Federation of Russian “Republics”, People’s Republic of China): “Panama Canal widening now in progress … should conclude in 2014. ” http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2237988/po… “THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CONTROLS THE PANAMA CANAL” http://www.holyhillcross.com/PANAMA.CANAL.htm “China” (Hutchison Whampoa Limited) Controls the largest deep water port in the Bahamas (Freeport) <a href=“http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:A4MGfzzpNGYJ :www.riflewarrior.com/China” target=“_blank”>http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=ca…” target=“_blank”>:www.riflewarrior.com/China MILITARY BASE GIVEN TO CHINA ON U.S. SOIL http://www.nwofighters.org/miltary-base-given-to-… … yea, nothing to worry about, let’s all play ostrich~!
	ken mcmanaman January 31st, 2011 at 10:10 am No kidding???? My dad, in USAF aerial intell for many years, predicted that china would be the big concern and not the Russians.…that was 30+ years ago.…..Washington, and, more specifically, the Pentagon, WAKE UP!!!!
	Jeff January 31st, 2011 at 11:15 am I am a former Marine officer and pro military, but I strongly agree with Taxpayer’s concepts if not his numbers. Eisenhower warned us about the MIC AND HE WAS RIGHT! We need to be prepared to fight when it becomes necessary, but we spend more that the rest of the world on our military. Why? Because the generals want to be able to destroy any potential enemy a hundred times or more, and the industrial sector loves the huge profits paid for by the cost is no object folks in Washington who are consumed by their lust for power.
	Bob-Sheridan January 31st, 2011 at 1:03 pm As one who watched and prevented bad things from happening during the Cold War days it should be remembered that the Soviets had only several hundred Bears and Bisons but if only fifty (50) made it to the US fifty (50) cities would have been vaporized. As to the Tank Gap, I suppose the thousands of tanks facing the Fulda Gap were there to make the Westen Europeans fell secure. Not! The only reason the Soviets did not win the Missle Gap was we out gapped them. We offset the etc. gaps likwise. As per the fall of the Soviets it is disingenuous to assert that that our belated post Carter-revanchmenmt of our military was not consequentual in the demise of the Soviet system. Read the statements of Gorbachev and the Soviet Generals concerning Star Wars if nothing else. It is somewhat amusing to see those who denigrate our Capitalist system which they claim defeated the Soviets try to replace it with the system embraced by the failed Soviets.
	Bob January 31st, 2011 at 1:56 pm China will own the world in the future. They have the patience we westerners (Americans) do not have. Their leadership is focused. Ours is anything but and our leaders have put us in multi-trillion dollar debt to what will be the greatest threat to freedom on earth, the country of China. But Obama will continue to borrow money from them that our great grandkids will have to pay back, if we survive that long. Screw the president and the congress and the senate for their damned foolhardy actions. Gates is right, we need to fear China.
	tom a January 31st, 2011 at 7:32 pm hit us,beat us then ask that the military back him.I’ll take your benefits and ask you to do the job is his moto.CUT all his lies and throw the BUM out ‚get a real sec .in office.Need to get rid of this two face .he cries for us to back him while he cuts our benefits.
	War Pony January 31st, 2011 at 8:45 pm more fuel for your fire … “Chinese government’s published 2010 military budget is US$77.95 billion,[2] the second largest in the world“ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_t… “China became the home to the world’s largest private solar research facility and the world’s fastest computer” http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Trump-Slams-Ob… … don’t think it can’t happen. It is exactly what the banksters have been planning for generations: http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/washington/v… “The western world will have to be put to sleep. So we shall begin by launching the most spectacular peace movement on record. There shall be electrifying overtures and unheard of concessions. The capitalist countries, stupid and decadent, will rejoice to cooperate to their own destruction. They will leap at another chance to be friends. As soon as their guard [military] is down, we shall SMASH THEM WITH OUR CLENCHED FIST.” http://www.newswatchmagazine.org/may08/index2.sht…
	Gonzarelli February 1st, 2011 at 1:39 am Mr. Gates is the expert getting up-to date intelligence from the ground brought to US by our own CIA, NSA. The reports must suggest efforts by China to strengthen/modernize and increase their militaristic capabilities. Mr. Gates seems like a methodical and intelligent man who says little but when has made his words public, they seem right on. I agree with him and know the Chineese do not like their biggest foe to continue to outnumber, strategize and support their enemies (Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and others). These countries are not well respected by China. China has an incredible population capable of big things. My concern is that they DO NOT like Israel. It would not be to hard for Chna to eventually hit US allies like Israel. In my view the dragon is regaining its strength and with our world’s economy crumbling before our eyes, the need to increase and depict your muscle is an obvious expectation. The video is a replica of the (AWESOME!) movie “Top Gun” but, their new fighter jets are nothing to ignore. These combined with missles capable of hitting US war ships is concerning enough for the US. Thank you.
	ROBERTRO2 February 2nd, 2011 at 8:05 pm WHERE HAS SEC.GATES BEEN,HE IS NOW WARY OF CHINA’S BUILD UP,THIS COUNTRY GAVE THEM THE MISSLE GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND SUPER COMPUTER.…THEY HAVE A SUB BASE IN THE SOUTH OF CHINA WITH ACCESS INTO A MOUNTAIN,THEY BEEN TRACKING AND SEEDING OUR SUBS IN THE WATER AS THEY PASS THERE COAST,THEY NOW CAN TAKE OUT ANY CARRIER WE HAVE.…THEY ARE BUYING THINGS UP ALL OVER THIS WORLD,THEY SUPPLY MOST OF THE CLOTHES AND SHOES THAT ARE MILITARY NEEDS AND NOW THIS SEC.“GATES” IS SURPRISE!!!!!! ITS IS TIME FOR THIS GUY AND MAYBE MANY MORE THAT ARE RUNNING THIS COUNTRY TO GO BEFORE ITS TO LATE.….…
	Roaddawg February 2nd, 2011 at 9:59 pm There is an old saying to kill a snake kill the head. So what it looks like is that China is killing us by what we think with (debt). This is how they will defeat us. So we need to lowwer our debt. Has anyone about why we need so many Congress people, when we only need 50 Senators. Seems we could trim a little fat there. Well lets look at capital punishment this could also save the states and the goverment some cash. I seen a article that said we have alot oil that was just found in the northwest this was stated by one of the Forbes family. Seems we have alot that can be done if we had the right people in charge instead of Lawyers.
	Smokenmirrors February 4th, 2011 at 10:39 am Holding onto debt if someones refuses to pay is like holding an empty bag. What did Russia do with the debt from “lend lease” after WWII?
	theredbob February 4th, 2011 at 12:02 pm Well, we ‘ve helped quite a few developing countries. China doesn’t need to be coddled any longer. They won’t alter their currency to be in line with the markets and they are spending fortunes on the military. Tarrifs or taxing imports from China seem to be in line. How can any private firm compete with the nation of China? China“the government” will spend billions to establish manufacturing for an item , so how does a private firm compete with this? Tax and Tarrif the jerks to get them in line. Oh, If you want to buy products MADE IN THE USA look at the generic brands. Any well known American brand will not be made here.Big Business has sold us out and we will never again achieve prosperity without a strong manufacturing backbone.
	War Pony February 4th, 2011 at 3:15 pm It’s a SPACE-RACE also: “Jan 11, 2007 China launches strike on its own weather satellite, destroying it 530 miles above the Earth. The strike shocks America as it proves China has capability for space war” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikilea… AND, of major concern: The FEDERAL RESERVE (you know, the private company that prints our “dollar bill”) owns more of the US’s debt than China~! They are NOT our friends. http://financial-com.info/2011/02/fed-owns-higher… Don’t think that the Ruskies won’t come to the aid of their comrades — ya know, commies are like that.
	JCitizen February 16th, 2011 at 11:49 am If you are suggesting the US plan to renege on its debts? That would not only be unwise, but put a stain on us that would send us into being a 2nd or 3rd world country. We can buck up and pay our debts! We all need to get back to asking what we can do for our country, even if that means paying off our credit cards, and mortgages, and raising taxes at least a little bit. I’ve done it, and I don’t owe ANYONE anything now. It is a good feeling, and it only hurt for a little while upon paying everything off. Are we Americans so ***** footed we can’t take some responsibility?
	BradM February 16th, 2011 at 8:05 pm Take a look at this article: http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-NOTAM-170209–1.htm… It looks like we need at least 400 F-22As just in the Pacific Region.
	anon February 23rd, 2011 at 11:29 am what kinda name is bryon skinner lol
	Eugene November 18th, 2011 at 12:26 am China will continue to grow economically and militarily no matter what america does, I find it interesting that america has been invading many countries over the decades and says china is a threat. I am not chinese but, I do realize that china has been a peaceful country compared to the u.s., come on united states be honest tell the american people the truth. Even if you do not want to tell the truth, the fact that china will continue to rise and show the world a new superpower is a good thing.
	JCitizen November 18th, 2011 at 11:41 am It seems each of our generations has had to learn the price of such adventurism — Korea, Vietnam, GWOT. These last actions were seen as a requirement because of direct attack on our homeland, but fear is our worst enemy, and will be our demise. The voices of the fearless need to be heard now, so we in the US can go back to being a nation who preferred minding our own business in World military affairs. Or at least fight smarter not harder!

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