DATE=8/3/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=NEW CHINESE MISSILE
NUMBER=5-43996
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China has announced the test of a new long-
range missile. U-S officials say there is nothing
unexpected in the launch, but some analysts say it
shows China is continuing to modernize its military
forces, which could have ramifications for world
security. V-O-A's Gil Butler has a background report:
TEXT: China's Xinhua news agency has announced that a
new ground-to-ground missile was launched successfully
over Chinese territory, but it is disclosing no
other details about the test.
The missile is believed to be the solid-fuel, mobile-
launched Dongfeng 31. That missile carries a single
nuclear warhead with a range of about eight-thousand
kilometers - long enough to hit targets in the United
States.
U-S State Department spokesman James Rubin says the
test firing was expected, and though it is a new
missile, its range is similar to existing missiles
developed by China.
Robert Manning, an Asian security expert with the
Council on Foreign Relations, agrees that the launch
was not a great surprise, or a major shift in the
strategic balance. He says the main significance of
the new missile is that it is mobile and uses solid
fuel, and so can be quickly prepared for launch.
He says that is not something to relax about. Of
more concern, he says, is the trend the Chinese
missile launch demonstrates.
/// MANNING ACT ///
The big concern is that all the other declared
nuclear powers are coming down [reducing their
arsenals], and China is modernizing [its
weapons],and that is a somewhat disconcerting
trend.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Manning says eventually there must be some
resolution of how low the United States and Russia go
in their nuclear forces, and how high Chinese forces
go. He says there has not yet been a serious
discussion with China on arms control.
Bates Gill of Washington's Brookings Institution calls
the launch of the Dong Feng 31 another step in China's
military modernization program.
/// GILL ACT ///
It does mark an important step forward in what
has been an ongoing and rather lengthy
modernization program for China's strategic
deterrent. It is significant in that China
apparently now will be able to deploy a more
robust deterrent in the form of road-mobile and
solid fueled missiles at this range.
/// END ACT ///
Robert Manning says China is working on an even
longer-range missile, the Dong Feng 41, which would
have an 11-thousand-kilometer range.
Mr. Gill emphasizes that America's nuclear deterrent
is still overwhelming and, he says, no significant
change in U-S deterrence is mandated by the Chinese
missile test. (signed)
NEB/MGB/WTW
03-Aug-1999 17:44 PM EDT (03-Aug-1999 2144 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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