China already leads the world: Pentagon report
WASHINGTON: China is on the cusp of fielding some of the world’s most advanced weapons systems - and in some cases already has surpassed its rivals, a Pentagon assessment has found.
An unclassified report released on Tuesday by the Defense Intelligence Agency says Beijing has made enormous military strides in recent years, thanks partly to domestic laws forcing foreign partners to divulge technical secrets in exchange for access to China’s vast market.
As a result of “acquiring technology by any means available”, China now is at the leading edge on a range of technologies, including with its naval designs, with medium and intermediaterange missiles, and with hypersonic weapons.
“The PLA (People’s Liberation Army) is on the verge of fielding some of the most modern weapon systems in the world,” states the report, titled China Military Power. “In some areas, it already leads the world.”
China has advanced capabilities to “impose its will in the region”, the report notes.
A particular focus for Beijing has been Taiwan. Speaking to Pentagon reporters, a senior defence intelligence official said he was worried about Taiwan’s security.
“The biggest concern is that as a lot of these technologies mature... (China) will reach a point where they will decide that using military force for a regional conflict is something that is more imminent,” the official said on condition of anonymity.