China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Chief of Staff, during a recent visit in the U.S., played down China’s military advancements, but at the same time he criticized the U.S. for selling weapons to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act, saying the U.S. was “interfering with China’s internal affairs” and “too domineering.”
Chief of General Staff of the PLA, General Chen Bingde, visited the National Defense University of the United States and also held a joint press conference at the Pentagon with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen on May 18.
Chen acted meekly when commenting on China’s military might, saying China’s military hardware is at least 20 years behind developed Western nations, and, “in particular after visiting the United States, I feel and I know, how poor our equipment is, and how underdeveloped we remain,” he said.
Chen also stated that China never intends to challenge the U.S. and “does not have the capability to challenge the United States.”
But China commentators say the Chinese regime’s downplaying of its military capabilities during public appearances is a calculated political act and belies its behind-the-scenes actions and ambitions.
“What Chen Bingde said about the Chinese army lagging behind the U.S., and that it does not dare to challenge the U.S. right now, are all true,” Dr. Sun Yanjun, a Washington-based scholar and China expert, told The Epoch Times on May 20.
Sun said that on the one hand, China’s domestic situation is unstable, and on the other hand, democratic movements in the Middle East and North Africa, and the killing of Bin Laden, were a big shock and blow to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“If the CCP makes any big moves, it will have problems both domestically and internationally,” Sun said.
Wu Fan, general editor of China Affairs, told The Epoch Times the CCP is playing low key because of several dramatic U.S. policy decisions and turns of events in the international situation recently.
Wu said Vice President Joe Biden’s criticism of China’s human rights, the U.S. announcement of a new Internet freedom policy, Obama’s foreign policy adjustments and his speech [supporting popular uprisings] in the Middle East and North Africa, all impact China. “Moreover, at any time there is the potential of a Jasmine Movement breaking out in China,” Wu said.
“China has committed to developing aircraft carriers, new nuclear submarines, intercontinental ballistic missiles, outer space combat capabilities, advanced stealth fighters, and anti-aircraft missiles in recent years. Are they not all targeted at the United States,” a May 22 article by Taiwan’s Central News Agency argued.
“The CCP considers military advancement its sole lifesaving straw, while at the same time pretending to be nice and well-behaved, especially in front of the United States.” Sun said.
By doing so, the CCP eases political tensions and gains time to seek strategic opportunities, so that its military power can match that of the United States and thereby maintain its dictatorship rule, Sun added.
US-Taiwan Weapons Deal
Despite his low-posture remarks on China’s military capabilities, Chen warned the U.S. not to sell weapons to Taiwan, or else Sino-U.S. military relations could be damaged.
Chen said some Americans have suggested that China remove the missiles deployed along its southeast coast opposite Taiwan.
“I can tell you responsibly here that we only have garrison deployment across from Taiwan, and we have no operational deployment, much less missiles, stationed there,” Chen said.
His remarks drew strong criticism in Taiwan.
“Chen is lying through his teeth,” Lin Yu-Fang, a legislative member of Taiwan’s Kuomingtang Party, said at a legislature meeting on May 19.
“The deployment of missiles does not have to be along the coastline. As long as it can hit Taiwan, it is enough to threaten Taiwan,” Lin added.
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Director, Tsai Der-sheng, said missiles deployed by China in coastal areas, targeting Taiwan, have been increasing in number and capability.
Based on U.S. satellite data, 1,425 mainland Chinese missiles that target Taiwan are not on the coasts, but distributed in Anhui, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces, Professor Yang Liyu, a Taiwan expert at Seton Hall University, told Radio Free Asia.
Luo Shao-He, a spokesperson for Taiwan’s Department of Defense, said in a statement on May 19: “The U.S. government has repeatedly assured Taiwan that it will not change its current policy of arms sales to Taiwan for military exchange and cooperation with China, and will continue to adhere to the Taiwan Relations Act to sell necessary defensive weapons to Taiwan,” Taiwan’s CNA reported on May 19.
At the May 18 Pentagon press conference, Chen criticized the Taiwan Relations Act, saying the U.S. was “interfering with China’s internal affairs” and “too domineering.” He also said that he had contacted some members of Congress, and some of them expressed that it was time to “revisit” the Taiwan Relations Act.
Next: Chen’s ‘soft’ demands under the banner of peace
A May 22 commentary on CNA concluded that Chen adopted a low-key position to ease U.S. concerns of China’s growing military, and most importantly, to loosen the U.S. position on its Taiwan arms sales.
“Chen’s intention is very clear,” the report said. “Beijing hopes to cut off Taiwan’s channels for enhancing its self-defense capability, and hence to subdue the enemy without a fight.”
“During his trip to the United States, Chen made ‘soft’ demands under the banner of peace, hoping to influence U.S. policy on Taiwan. This quite departs from Beijing’s propaganda during the last two years about ‘peaceful development’ of cross-strait relations.”
Taiwan and the United States should both be watchful, the report said.
Pakistan Connection
Recently, China’s relationship with Pakistan has been in the spotlight again.
On May 22 Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Yousaf Gilani, invited China to help Pakistan build a naval base at Gwadar, on the Indian Ocean, just 180 kilometers from the mouth of the Persian Gulf, a vital global energy choke point where China currently has no bases. Gilani described China as his country’s “best friend.”
“This is like a strategic thunderclap,” Peter Hartcher said in a May 23 article on chinhdangvu. “It seems to confirm longstanding fears that China’s decision to help build commercial ports along the Indian Ocean--in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma and Pakistan--is part of a long-term plan for a so-called “string of pearls” naval strategy to make Beijing a great power not only in the Pacific Ocean, but also the Indian.”
The article quotes former admiral of the Indian navy, Sureesh Mehta, saying, “A Chinese base at Gwadar offers Pakistan, in an alliance with Beijing, the potential to take control over the world energy jugular...”
“Beijing seeks to strengthen its hand against Washington, and Pakistan against its arch rival India,” the report said.
It has long been known that China’s contribution to Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal and missile technology has made it possible for rogue regimes such as North Korea, Iran and Libya to obtain nuclear know-how and weapons.
Jamyang Norbu, in a May 20 chinhdangvu report titled “China and the Creation of Pakistan’s Nuclear Arsenal,” concluded, “Through proxies China manages to deliver real nuclear threats to its adversaries, while appearing to remain above the fray. ... one can only marvel at the skill and patience with which China has consistently outmaneuvered its many enemies and competitors.”
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