tagged w/ Balance of Powers
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(Reuters) - U.S. military commanders are expressing confidence that they can hold their own in the face of faster-than-expected advances by China's military, but looming cost cuts are adding to doubts about the future of American power in the Pacific.
Fueled by its booming economy, China's military growth over the past decade has exceeded most U.S. forecasts. Its plans to develop aircraft carriers, anti-satellite missiles and other advanced systems have alarmed neighbors and Washington.
Critics, including within the U.S. Congress, note with apprehension that rising Chinese defense spending coincides with Washington's plans to scale back its budgets.
They accuse the Pentagon of appearing flat-footed in its response to China's military advances, like the development of a stealth fighter jet and a new missile that could challenge U.S. aircraft carriers.
"I think we're headed on the wrong track," Randy Forbes, a Republican lawmaker who is part of the Congressional China Caucus, told Reuters.
Experts agree that as China's military expands its reach, the risks of potentially dangerous misunderstandings between the U.S. and Chinese armed forces will increase.
But they are divided over whether China's rise necessarily means a decline in power for the U.S. military, or whether it can indefinitely preserve its edge through investments, technological advances and strengthened Asian alliances.
Moreover interdependence between the world's two largest economies creates little incentive for conflict, but regional frictions may ultimately prove the most likely spark for confrontation, experts say.
The debate over whether the United States can preserve its military advantage hits home for the U.S. Navy, which is tasked with preserving U.S. access to international waters around China that the People's Liberation Army appears intent on controlling.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/01/us-usa-china-military-idUSTRE7101AG20110201?pageNumber=1(Reuters) - U.S. military commanders are expressing confidence that they can hold... more
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-US defends $6.4bn weapons sale to Taiwan-
The US has defended a proposed weapons sale to Taiwan following a furious response from China.
The US State Department said on Saturday that the sale contributed to "security and stability" between Taiwan and China, Reuters reported.
Beijing announced a series of moves against the US in retaliation for the proposed $6.4bn (£4bn) sale.
Ties between the two countries are already strained by rows over trade and internet censorship.
Such sales contribute to maintaining security and stability across the Taiwan Strait," said US State Department spokeswoman Laura Tischler, quoted by Reuters.
The US is the leading arms supplier to Taiwan and has a treaty obligation to provide it with defensive arms.
-"Severe harm"-
Beijing said it would suspend military exchanges with the US, review co-operation on major issues and impose sanctions on companies selling arms.
However, the US - like the EU - has banned its companies selling arms to China since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, so it was not clear what effect Chinese sanctions would have.
Chinese defence ministry spokesman Huang Xueping said the measures reflected the "severe harm" posed by the deal.
A foreign ministry spokesman said the arms deal would have "repercussions that neither side wishes to see".
-"Difficult Ties"-
Taiwan and China have been ruled by separate governments since the end of a civil war in 1949.
Beijing has hundreds of missiles pointed at the island and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control if Taiwan moved towards formal independence.
Defence ties between Washington and Beijing have been on ice for several years because of differences over Taiwan, though the two countries' leaders pledged to improve them in 2009.
Taiwan, meanwhile, welcomed the US move.
................editorial note; pissing contest
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8489301.stm-US defends $6.4bn weapons sale to Taiwan-
The US has defended a proposed weapons... more
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Russian military are keen to show that they have equally impressive technology to their Western rivals
Russia has unveiled its new stealth fighter jet, meant to boost the country's ageing arsenal of weaponry and be a rival to the US F-22 Raptor.
The Sukhoi T-50, also called the PAK FA, made its maiden flight in Russia's far east. Test pilot Sergei Bogdan said it was "easy and comfortable to pilot".
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said much work needed to be done before mass production began in 2015.
Stealth technology is meant to nearly eliminate a plane's radar signature.
The plane is being developed by the Sukhoi company at its Komsomolsk-on-Amur production plant.
The new jet has been developed in partnership with India. It is seen as a significant milestone in Russia's efforts to modernise its Soviet-era military hardware.
Sukhoi's director Mikhail Pogosyan said he was convinced that the project would "excel its Western rivals in cost-effectiveness and will not only allow strengthening of the defence power of the Russian and Indian air forces, but also gain a significant share of the world market".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8486812.stmRussian military are keen to show that they have equally impressive technology to... more
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"an examination of the brief period bewtween August 1945 and August 1949 in which only the United States possessed atomic weapons"."an examination of the brief period bewtween August 1945 and August 1949 in which... more
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This is a must see video. Is it country first or me first for McCain? Is Sarah Palin the best for America?
The future of the United States of America is just few more days away in probably the most critical election time in the history of United States when the US economy is in jeopardy, people losing their jobs, America's global status and reputation being questioned and world peace is at stake.
This election is not just about winning. Not about a party. Not about color. Not about selfish ambition. This is about what you want for America, you and the next generation's future and the future of the world. America is a very powerful nation with very powerful influence on vast aspects--a power that may land on the wrong hands.
This is a must see video. Is it country first or me first for McCain? Is Sarah Palin... more
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(Pictured above - Russia's S-400 SAMs)
The USG Open Source Center translates an article from the Russian press proposing a strategic alliance between Russia and Iran.
By Juan Cole
Pundit on Possible Russia-Iran Alliance To Counter 'Unfriendly' US Moves
Article by Radzhab Safarov, General Director of the Russian Center for Iranian Studies: "Iranian Trump Card. Russia Can Take Control of Persian Gulf"
Vremya Novostey
Friday, August 29, 2008
Document Type: OSC Translated Text
The recognition of South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence by Russia is a timely step to protect these republics from new Georgian aggression. However, taking into account the United States' plans to expedite Georgia's and Ukraine's accession to the NATO military-political bloc, the situation near the Russian border remains alarming. At the same time Moscow has a lot of possibilities to take balanced counter measures to the United States' and entire NATO's unfriendly plans. In particular, Russia can rely on those countries that effectively oppose the United States' and their satellites' expansion. Only collective efforts can help to create a situation which would, if not eliminate then at least reduce the risk of the Cold War's transformation into local and global conflicts.
For instance, Moscow could strengthen its military-technical ties with Syria and launch negotiations on the reestablishment of its military presence in Cuba. However, the most serious step which the United States and especially Israel fear (incidentally, Israel supplied arms to Georgia) is hypothetical revision of Russia's foreign policy with regard to Iran. A strategic alliance presuming the signing of a new large-scale military political treaty with Iran could change the entire geopolitical picture of the contemporary world.
New allied relations may result in the deployment of at least two military bases in strategic regions of Iran. One military base could be deployed in the north of the country in the Iranian province of Eastern Azerbaijan and the other one in the south, on the Island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf. Due to the base in Iran's Eastern Azerbaijan Russia would be able to monitor military activities in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and share this information with Iran.
The deployment of a military base on the Island of Qeshm would allow Russia to monitor the United States' and NATO's activities in the Persian Gulf zone, Iraq and other Arab states. With the help of special equipment Russia could effectively monitor whois sailing toward this sea bottleneck, from where, and with what cargo on board to enter the World Ocean or to return.
For the first time ever Russia will have a possibility to stop suspicious vessels and ships and inspect their cargo, which the Americans have been cynically doing in that zone for many decades. In exchange for the deployment of its military bases Russia could help the Iranians to deploy modern air defense and missile defense systems along the perimeter of its borders. Tehran, for instance, needs Russia's modern S-400 SAMs.
(continued below)(Pictured above - Russia's S-400 SAMs)
The USG Open Source Center translates... more
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For the first time since the end of the Cold War, America isn't alone on top. What's replacing the unipolar world of the 1990s? A gang of five superpowers: China, Russia, India, the Eurozone and the U.S. For the first time since the end of the Cold War, America isn't alone on top.... more
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