China Calls Cia Report On Missile Build-Up "Baseless Speculation"

NUKEWARS

China Calls CIA Report On Missile Build-Up "Baseless Speculation"

File Photo: Both soldiers and civilians walk past China's first nuclear missile (middle) as they visit Beijing's Military Museum, 21 July 2000, which showcases China's past military achievements and weapons. China will make sure American plans to establish an anti-missle defense will be put on the agenda when a regional security forum meets later this month, the foreign ministry said on Friday. AFP Photo by Stephen Shaver

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.

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NUKEWARS

US and Russia To Talk Nukes Despite Only "Virtual" Cuts
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Moscow (AFP) Jan 10, 2002
Arms reduction talks between Russia and the United States are to take place in Washington on January 15-16, the US ambassador in Moscow said on Thursday. The main thrust of the talks, the first since the United States decided to abandon the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty forged with the Soviet Union, was laid out by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in Brussels in mid-December.

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