Text Fwd: China: Japanese Interceptor Missiles To Threaten Regional Stability

* Text sent from Rick Rozoff on Dec. 21, 2010

Global Security Newswire
Japanese Missile Defenses Could Prompt Arms Buildup, China Warns
December 21, 2010

A Chinese diplomat suggested Japan's plan to deploy additional missile defense equipment could threaten strategic stability in Asia and prompt an arms buildup by Beijing, the London Telegraph reported yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 13).

Japan last week unveiled plans to field additional Patriot Advanced Capability 3 missile interceptors and to expedite production of Aegis missile defense warships (see GSN, Dec. 17). Although Tokyo said the deployments were aimed at countering potential North Korean missile strikes, Beijing warned the plan would undermine Chinese defenses.

"Japan's new military investments are going to transform the military balance in the region," the Chinese diplomat said. "China will have no choice but to respond by enhancing its own capabilities."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu characterized Japan's missile defense plans as "irresponsible."

Analysts expressed concern that an arms race could prompt India and later Pakistan to augment their own missile capabilities.

"China depends heavily on both conventional and nuclear-armed ballistic missiles to offset the technological weaknesses of its armed forces," said Ashley Tellis, an analyst with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, "so a more robust Japanese missile defense system is a real threat to its clout" (Praveen Swami, London Telegraph, Dec. 20).