Pentagon: China Allegedly Deploying More Missiles Opposite Taiwan
VOA News
10 Jul 2003, 20:25 UTC
The U.S. Defense Department is preparing to release a report alleging that China has vastly increased the number of short-range ballistic missiles deployed opposite Taiwan.
Pentagon sources, who asked not to be identified, tell VOA the report will be released to Congress shortly. They say the document indicates Beijing now has 450 short-range missiles opposite Taiwan, 100 more than the number cited in last year's Pentagon report on China.
The sources also say the new document predicts that China will add 75 new ballistic missiles to its short-range arsenal every year.
Pentagon officials have said China's moves to upgrade its military are at odds with Beijing's stated goal of achieving reunification with Taiwan peacefully. In other developments, China and South Korea issued a joint statement Thursday saying there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an "inalienable" part of China's territory. South Korea says the Chinese government represents the only legitimate government of China, adding that Seoul will continue to adhere to the "one China" position.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun returned home from China Thursday after four days of talks focusing primarily on North Korea's nuclear program.
The United States has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but Washington has sold weapons and military equipment to the island republic. President Bush says his administration is committed to helping Taiwan defend itself against a military attack by China.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
