Reply #37: NYT: Chinese Navy Buildup Gives Pentagon New Worries [View All]

(This article has been archived and is unavailable, but I posted the abstract. China's navy is apparently no longer as outdated as "conventional wisdom" has painted it to be over the years.)

ABSTRACT - Pentagon officials say China is focusing its growing defense spending on weapons systems that could exploit perceived American military weaknesses in case United States ever needs to respond to fighting in Taiwan; say China has purchased or built enough amphibious assault ships, submarines, fighter jets and short-range missiles to pose immediate threat to Taiwan and to any American force that might come to Taiwan's aid; some American military analysts believe China could now defeat Taiwan before American forces could arrive at scene; even most hawkish officials at Pentagon do not believe China is preparing for imminent invasion of Taiwan, but it is quietly challenging America's reach in western Pacific by concentrating strategically on conventional forces; photo (M)

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F4091EFB3C5A0C7B8CDDAD0894DD404482