China: military 'decades behind' US - Chinese defence minister

[GoFlyKiteNow]

China: military 'decades behind' US

By Malcolm Moore in Shanghai 12:49PM GMT 10 Jan 2011

China has insisted that its military technology lags "decades behind" the United States and other developed countries and poses no threat to the rest of the world.

Liang Guanglie, the Chinese defence minister, spoke on the first day of a three-day trip to Beijing by Robert Gates, the US Defence secretary.

"The efforts that we place on the research and development of weapons systems are by no means targeted at any third country or any other countries in the world, and it will by no means threaten any other country in the world," said Mr Liang.

His conciliatory tone was echoed by Li Keqiang, who is likely to become China's prime minister next year. On the first day of a tour of Britain, Mr Li stressed that China had "actively mediated" to reduce international tensions in Iran, Darfur and North Korea.

Mr Gates pledged that the US would match the Chinese advances with its own programmes. "I've been concerned about the development of anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles ever since I took this job," he said, as he travelled to Beijing.

The Global Times, a Communist party newspaper, said in an editorial that China nevertheless remains "one generation or more behind the US in military technology."

It added that China, as a "fragile" country, needed to develop its military in order to "make any power think twice before trying to offend China's key interests".
.

 

[Watchman]

You don't need high technology to take over the world !

You need a good strategy .

 

[singveld]

give every china man a AK-47 and rocket launcher. They can conquer the entire asia.

 

[Ramseth]

give every china man a AK-47 and rocket launcher. They can conquer the entire asia.

First, how to get half a billion AK-47s and rocket launchers? Then, if they really have these, they'd most probably start Warring States II in China before going out into anywhere else in Asia.

 

[mayliewwan]

Are you trying to irk the '50 cent army' guy

China: military 'decades behind' US

By Malcolm Moore in Shanghai 12:49PM GMT 10 Jan 2011

China has insisted that its military technology lags "decades behind" the United States and other developed countries and poses no threat to the rest of the world.

Liang Guanglie, the Chinese defence minister, spoke on the first day of a three-day trip to Beijing by Robert Gates, the US Defence secretary.

"The efforts that we place on the research and development of weapons systems are by no means targeted at any third country or any other countries in the world, and it will by no means threaten any other country in the world," said Mr Liang.

His conciliatory tone was echoed by Li Keqiang, who is likely to become China's prime minister next year. On the first day of a tour of Britain, Mr Li stressed that China had "actively mediated" to reduce international tensions in Iran, Darfur and North Korea.

Mr Gates pledged that the US would match the Chinese advances with its own programmes. "I've been concerned about the development of anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles ever since I took this job," he said, as he travelled to Beijing.

The Global Times, a Communist party newspaper, said in an editorial that China nevertheless remains "one generation or more behind the US in military technology."

It added that China, as a "fragile" country, needed to develop its military in order to "make any power think twice before trying to offend China's key interests".
.

 

[longbow]

He is correct. I think in a hypo match up in some 3rd country far away or in middle of Pacific, US is easily 40 years ahead.

However in a defensive posture, say a full assault over Taiwan Straits where there is home advantage maybe only 15 years. It takes a lot more assets to project power then to defend.

But China is the military superpower in Asia.

Going forward it is all about investment in military; which again depends on size of GDP.

But all this talk is pretty stupid. US and China are totally entwined economically. US exports to China are at $100B a year and growing 30% a year! China is the 3rd largest export market except Cannada and Mexcio. But export figures for Canada and Mexico are skewed because many US corps have production facilities in these countries. Large % of GM/Ford production is in Canada so you see a lot of exports of parts to Canada and finished goods is reimported into US.

Finally, I doubt if China will be a military threat to neighbors. It wants to make $$ from its neighbors. Just look at market potential of India. India does not have the $ nor the technology. For example - to upgrade the railways (built by the Brits) will easily cost $1Trillion. China can build it and finance it so chances are that it will get the contract - of course JV with some large legacy family - Tata, Congress controlled companies, etc What about hydro electric dams, roads,power stations etc etc.

To China, India is like US and Europe after the WW2. Europe had little industrial capacity for mfg goods and US was boom time charlie as it supplied Europe for the next 20 years. India is the same. It does not have much of a mfg base (ever seen a made in India anything - except for towels) and it will easily take another 20 years to build up that capacity. With 1.1B it is going to be boom time for China (TV, refrigerators, washing machines, radio, computers, cellphones). So no potential for war there.

China: military 'decades behind' US

By Malcolm Moore in Shanghai 12:49PM GMT 10 Jan 2011

China has insisted that its military technology lags "decades behind" the United States and other developed countries and poses no threat to the rest of the world.

Liang Guanglie, the Chinese defence minister, spoke on the first day of a three-day trip to Beijing by Robert Gates, the US Defence secretary.

"The efforts that we place on the research and development of weapons systems are by no means targeted at any third country or any other countries in the world, and it will by no means threaten any other country in the world," said Mr Liang.

His conciliatory tone was echoed by Li Keqiang, who is likely to become China's prime minister next year. On the first day of a tour of Britain, Mr Li stressed that China had "actively mediated" to reduce international tensions in Iran, Darfur and North Korea.

Mr Gates pledged that the US would match the Chinese advances with its own programmes. "I've been concerned about the development of anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles ever since I took this job," he said, as he travelled to Beijing.

The Global Times, a Communist party newspaper, said in an editorial that China nevertheless remains "one generation or more behind the US in military technology."

It added that China, as a "fragile" country, needed to develop its military in order to "make any power think twice before trying to offend China's key interests".
.