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DATE=2/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245429
TITLE=CHINA MISSILES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  TAIWAN'S GOVERNMENT IS ACCUSING CHINA OF DEPLOYING MORE 
THAN 100 BALLISTIC MISSILES AND AIMING THEM AT TAIWAN.  THE 
DEFENSE MINISTRY IN TAIPEI SAYS IT HAS INTELLIGENCE REPORTS TO 
BACK UP [BOLSTER] ITS CLAIM.  A U-S MILITARY SPOKESMAN AT THE 
PENTAGON SAYS THERE IS  NOTHING  NEW ABOUT THE MISSILE THREAT TO 
THE ISLAND.  V- O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.
TEXT:  PRESS REPORTS IN TAIWAN AND THE UNITED STATES SAY BEIJING 
HAS MORE THAN 100 (M-CLASS) MISSILES AIMED AT TAIWAN.  TAIWAN'S 
DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS THIS IS FORCING TAIWAN TO DEVELOP AN 
ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM.
THE COMMENTS FOLLOW NEWSPAPER REPORTS THAT BEIJING HAS SHARPLY 
INCREASED ITS DEPLOYMENT OF MISSILES IN COASTAL REGIONS NEAR 
TAIWAN.
// OPT //  THE FINANCIAL TIMES, QUOTING U-S MILITARY ANALYSTS, 
SAYS CHINA HAS STATIONED UP TO 200 OF ITS M-NINE AND M-11 
MISSILES IN THE AREA.  // END OPT //
BUT A SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-S MILITARY, MIKE DOUBLEDAY SAYS CHINA 
HAS BEEN BUILDING UP ITS FORCES FOR SOME TIME.
                      /// DOUBLEDAY ACT ///
         THIS, HOWEVER IS NOT A NEW THREAT.  IT STRETCHES BACK 
         MORE THAN HALF A DECADE, AND ANY KIND OF A REPORT THAT 
         INDICATES THAT THERE IS A SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT IS WRONG.  
         THEY ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED OVER THE LAST FIVE OR 
         SIX YEARS.
                         /// END ACT ///
BEIJING CONSIDERS TAIWAN A RENEGADE PROVINCE, AND REFUSES TO RULE
OUT THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST THE ISLAND.
EAST ASIAN EXPERTS SAY EVEN THE PROSPECT OF A U-S - DEVELOPED 
ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM FOR TAIWAN IS STRAINING RELATIONS 
BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BEIJING.  THE ISSUE COULD BE ON THE AGENDA
WHEN U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT VISITS CHINA NEXT 
MONTH.
                        /// REST OPT ///
CHINA'S CONCERNS MAY BE PREMATURE.  U-S CRITICS OF THE PENTAGON 
SAY THE MILITARY HAS SPENT ABOUT 120-BILLION DOLLARS WORKING ON 
SEVERAL MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS, BUT HAS  NOT  COME UP WITH ONE 
THAT WORKS.   (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/WDC/WTW
11-Feb-99 6:24 PM EST (2324 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.