PRC MILITARY STRENGTH FAR SURPASSES INTERNATIONAL ESTIMATES
Central News Agency
2005-07-13 22:49:31
Taipei, July 13 (CNA) Vice Minister of National Defence Tsai Ming-hsien said Wednesday China's military modernization has been progressing much faster than international experts' evaluations and its military might has been growing at an alarming pace.
Tsai cited for example that China's Second Artillery Corps, which has six ballistic missile bases and controls 100 nuclear warheads, is now capable of attacking the North American continent, and its SU-27 aircraft can fly from Guangzhou to hit targets in Japan's Hokkaido and return to base.
Another alarming development is the Chinese navy's deep-ocean strategy, which now boasts the capability of sailing past the "first island chain" on the West Pacific Rim, he added.
During an interview with the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Japanese Economic News) daily, Tsai said China's defence budget has grown from US$6.7 billion in 1994 to US$26 billion in 2004 thanks to its rapid economic growth, indicating that its military might has been growing far ahead of international estimates.
In the face of China's "military rise, " Tsai emphasized the necessity of building a strong deterrent force based on the principle of "not provoking and no aggression."
He also called for the establishment of a dialogue and exchange mechanism in the West Pacific area to maintain regional stability and economic prosperity.
(BY S.C. Chang)
ENDITEM/mw
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