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Bush - Authorized War with China.

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Bush - Authorized War with China.

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:36:43 -0800 (PST)

 

 

 

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060316-114755-3306r.htm

 

Pentagon 'hedge' strategy targets China

 

By Bill Gertz

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

March 17, 2006

 

 

The Pentagon is moving strategic bombers to Guam and aircraft carriers

and submarines to the Pacific as part of a new " hedge " strategy aimed

at preparing for conflict with China, Pentagon officials said yesterday.

Peter Rodman, assistant defense secretary for international

security affairs, told a congressional commission that the response to

the emerging military threat from China is part of the White House

national security strategy made public yesterday.

Although U.S. relations with China are good, " both sides

understand very well that there is a potential for a conflict,

particularly in the Taiwan Strait, " Mr. Rodman said during a hearing

of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

China's arms buildup in recent years altered the U.S. " strategic

calculus " for defending Taiwan from a mainland attack and shows that

" a prudent hedging policy is essential, " Mr. Rodman said.

The placement of about 700 Chinese missiles opposite Taiwan has

changed the status quo between the non-communist island and the

communist mainland, he said.

The Pentagon policy calls for watching China's military and " being

ready to deal with it, if the worst case should happen, " Mr. Rodman said.

James Thomas, deputy assistant defense secretary for plans, said

key elements of the " hedging " policy are aimed at nations with

uncertain futures, including China and Russia.

Cooperation is preferred, but the Pentagon must prepare " for the

possibility that others could choose a more hostile path, " Mr. Thomas

said.

" In [the China] part of the hedging strategy, we're looking at the

deployments of bomber elements to Guam on a more routine basis, " he

said. " We're also looking at making adjustments in our naval posture

globally, shifting to six carrier battle groups in the Pacific region,

given the shift in global transport and trade, as well as over the

next several years shifting approximately 60 percent of our attack

submarine fleet to the Pacific. "

The public term for the strategy is " hedge, " but in internal

Pentagon discussions the term is " effective preparations to swiftly

defeat Chinese aggression, " one defense official said.

The comments about a conflict contrast with statements by Pentagon

officials that have sought to minimize the emerging threat from China.

The plan calls for frequent rotations of B-2 strategic bombers to

Guam, part of what the Air Force calls its global strike mission to

reach crisis areas quickly. Special hangars and other deployment and

maintenance facilities are being built on Guam, a U.S. territory about

1,800 miles from the Chinese coast.

Three attack submarines are based in Guam, and arms storage there

includes long-range air-launched cruise missiles and Joint Direct

Attack Munitions.

Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of the Pacific Command, has

visited Guam and told reporters that the island will become a pivot

point for U.S. forces in the Pacific because of the relatively short

distances to the Taiwan Strait, South Korea and Southeast Asia.

Yesterday, Mr. Thomas said the Pentagon is strengthening alliances

in Asia as part of the strategy.

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