WikiLeaks has divulged a secret list compiled by Washington of key infrastructure sites around the world that could pose a critical danger to US security if they come under terrorist attack.
The newly released cable is one of the most explosive yet leaked by the whistleblowing Web site that have heaped embarrassment on Washington and caused anger around the world.
A US Department of State cable from February last year asked US missions to update a list of infrastructure and key resources worldwide whose loss “could critically impact” the country’s public health, economic life and national security.
It details undersea cables, key communications, ports, mineral resources and firms of strategic importance in countries ranging from Britain to New Zealand, via Africa, the Middle East and China.
A Canadian hydroelectric plant is described as a “critical irreplaceable source of power to portions of Northeast US,” while a Siemens factory in Germany does “essentially irreplaceable production of key chemicals”.
Also listed are European manufacturers of vaccines for smallpox and rabies, an Italian maker of treatment for snakebite venom and a German company making treatment for plutonium poisoning.
According to the cable, the request was designed “to strengthen national preparedness, timely response, and rapid recovery in the event of an attack, natural disaster or other emergency.”
The cable includes the British locations of undersea cables, satellite systems and defense plants.
“We unequivocally condemn the unauthorized release of classified information,” a spokesman for British Prime Minister David Cameron’s Downing Street office said.
RUDD ON CHINA
Among other revelations, the latest document dump showed Australia’s then-prime minister Kevin Rudd warning US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton over lunch in March last year that force might be needed against China “if everything goes wrong.”
Rudd called for “integrating China effectively into the international community and allowing it to demonstrate greater responsibility, all while also preparing to deploy force if everything goes wrong,” the cable stated.
Rudd also described Chinese leaders as “paranoid” about Taiwan and Tibet, and said that his push for a new Asia-Pacific body was designed to contain Chinese influence.
Clinton questioned the challenges arising from Beijing’s growing economic clout, asking: “How do you deal toughly with your banker?”
China is the single biggest holder of US Treasury debt.
Rudd reviewed Chinese leaders for Clinton at the lunch, saying President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) “is no [predecessor] Jiang Zemin (江澤民)” and opining that Hu’s likely successor Xi Jinping (習近平) could rise above his colleagues.
On Taiwan, Rudd told the US that the feelings of Chinese leaders were “sub-rational and deeply emotional” while hardline policies on Tibet were designed to send messages to other ethnic minorities.
Rudd refused to confirm the details in the memo released by WikiLeaks. However, he defended Australia’s “robust” ties with China, adding that he would not be contacting Beijing over the comments.
“It’s a robust relationship and diplomacy’s a robust business — sometimes there are agreements and sometimes there are disagreements. That’s life and that’s normal,” Rudd told reporters in Canberra. “The business of diplomacy is not just to roll over and have your tummy tickled from time to time by the Chinese or anybody else; the business of diplomacy is to be firm about your national interest.”
TYPHOON: The storm’s path indicates a high possibility of Krathon making landfall in Pingtung County, depending on when the storm turns north, the CWA said Typhoon Krathon is strengthening and is more likely to make landfall in Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said in a forecast released yesterday afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the CWA’s updated sea warning for Krathon showed that the storm was about 430km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point. It was moving in west-northwest at 9kph, with maximum sustained winds of 119kph and gusts of up to 155kph, CWA data showed. Krathon is expected to move further west before turning north tomorrow, CWA forecaster Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華) said. The CWA’s latest forecast and other countries’ projections of the storm’s path indicate a higher
SLOW-MOVING STORM: The typhoon has started moving north, but at a very slow pace, adding uncertainty to the extent of its impact on the nation Work and classes have been canceled across the nation today because of Typhoon Krathon, with residents in the south advised to brace for winds that could reach force 17 on the Beaufort scale as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast that the storm would make landfall there. Force 17 wind with speeds of 56.1 to 61.2 meters per second, the highest number on the Beaufort scale, rarely occur and could cause serious damage. Krathon could be the second typhoon to land in southwestern Taiwan, following typhoon Elsie in 1996, CWA records showed. As of 8pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 180km
TYPHOON DAY: Taitung, Pingtung, Tainan, Chiayi, Hualien and Kaohsiung canceled work and classes today. The storm is to start moving north this afternoon The outer rim of Typhoon Krathon made landfall in Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) at about noon yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, adding that the eye of the storm was expected to hit land tomorrow. The CWA at 2:30pm yesterday issued a land alert for Krathon after issuing a sea alert on Sunday. It also expanded the scope of the sea alert to include waters north of Taiwan Strait, in addition to its south, from the Bashi Channel to the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島). As of 6pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 160km south of
STILL DANGEROUS: The typhoon was expected to weaken, but it would still maintain its structure, with high winds and heavy rain, the weather agency said One person had died amid heavy winds and rain brought by Typhoon Krathon, while 70 were injured and two people were unaccounted for, the Central Emergency Operation Center said yesterday, while work and classes have been canceled nationwide today for the second day. The Hualien County Fire Department said that a man in his 70s had fallen to his death at about 11am on Tuesday while trimming a tree at his home in Shoufeng Township (壽豐). Meanwhile, the Yunlin County Fire Department received a report of a person falling into the sea at about 1pm on Tuesday, but had to suspend search-and-rescue
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