China’s ongoing military buildup could destabilize Taiwan, according to a draft copy of the latest report from the US Congress’ US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
“China’s rapid military modernization is altering the balance of power in the Asia Pacific,” the draft says.
It says the buildup could “engender destabilizing security competition” between major nearby countries, such as Japan and India, and at the same time it could “exacerbate regional hotspots such as Taiwan.”
The congressional commission’s report is due to be released in its final form next month.
A summary of “a late draft” of the report was published on Tuesday by conservative online newspaper the Washington Free Beacon.
“The potential for security miscalculation in the region is rising,” says the draft, which according to the Washington Free Beacon “paints an alarming picture of China’s growing aggressiveness and expanding power, including development of two new stealth jets, the first deployment of a naval expeditionary amphibious group to the Indian Ocean and the aerial bombing exercises held in Kazakhstan.”
Chinese leaders are fueling nationalist tensions as concerns grow about increased civic unrest and declining economic growth.
“Promoting a sense of grievance among the Chinese people and creating diversionary tensions in the region would carry real risks of escalation and create the potential for the US to be drawn into a regional conflict,” the draft report says.
It says that China’s new weapons now threaten the US ability to deter regional conflicts, defend allies, and maintain open and secure sea lanes.
The draft report says that China now has as many as 1,895 ballistic and cruise missiles, including up to 1,200 short-range missiles and 100 medium-range missiles.
It is also said to have 500 ground-launched land attack cruise missiles.
According to the Washington Free Beacon, the commission is recommending that the US Congress increase funding for naval deployments in Asia, continue three-a-year production of Virginia-class submarines, develop an unmanned navy carrier strike aircraft, fund a new long-range anti-ship missile and build ship-based directed energy arms.
All of these recommendations would directly help the US defend Taiwan in a crisis.
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