 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
China Calls Cia Report On Missile Build-Up "Baseless Speculation"
Beijing (AFP) Jan 10, 2002 Beijing Thursday called a CIA report that China was expanding its ballistic missile arsenal "baseless speculation", but reiterated that it would build up its military forces in accordance with its own needs. "I've not heard of this piece of news that you are talking about, but I believe it is baseless speculation," foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said during a regular foreign ministry press briefing. "China will step up its defense in accordance with its own needs." According to a US intelligence estimate published Wednesday, China's ballistic missile forces would increase several times -- to around 75 to 100 warheads -- by 2015. Such a scenario would pose an increased ballistic missile threat to the United States, although such levels would still be considerably smaller and less capable than the strategic missile forces of Russia and the United States. China's current intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force consists of large, liquid-propellant missiles armed with single nuclear warheads, including about 20 CSS-4 silo-based missiles capable of reaching targets in the United States, according to the estimate. The US intelligence community believes Beijing would be able to equip these missile with multiple warheads (MIRVs) "in a few years". But the estimate said China's quest for a MIRV capability for its mobile ICBMs and submarine-launched missiles "would encounter significant technical hurdles and would be costly." At the same time, China continues to build up its arsenal of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) deployed, in particular, across the strait from Taiwan. "The latest Chinese SRBMs provide a survivable and effective conventional strike force and expand conventional ballistic missile coverage," the US intelligence estimate concluded. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
World Powers Threaten Defiant Iran Over Nuclear Crisis
Vienna (AFP) Jan 11, 2006World powers threatened Iran with UN Security Council sanctions Wednesday after it resumed sensitive nuclear activities as a defiant Tehran vowed to press ahead with its disputed atomic programme. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
