China developing first strike capability against Taiwan: Expert

Thursday, March 27, 1999

WASHINGTON -- China is developing a huge missile arsenal in what appears to be a plan to launch a massive first strike to conquer neighboring Taiwan, a U.S. Senate committee was told.

Carl Ford Jr. of the Heritage Foundation and a leading China expert told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday that Beijing is increasing its missile capability with new models, including the M-9 and M-11. He pointed to a Pentagon report that by 2005 China will have an overwhelming advantage of Taiwan in offensive missiles.

Ford says the Chinese People's Liberation Army appears to have changed its military strategy toward Taiwan from one of a slowly-developing assault and blockade to a "more intense, quick-hitting attacks featuring ballistic missiles."

"This scenario is designed to achieve China's objectives before the U.S. could become fully engaged in the fighting," Ford said. "Chinese leaders probably believe that the more rapid and complete the PLA's initial success, the less the prospect that the U.S. could intervene. Indeed, they may consider a quick, decisive action their only real option."

Ford called on the Clinton administration to provide Taiwan with advanced weapons and means for missile defense. On Thursday, the Taiwan Defense Ministry said the country plans to spend $9 billion over the next decade to develop a low-altitude missile defense shield against Chinese attacks.