In pivoting toward East Asia, the U.S. also is insisting on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, which then complicates relations between the two countries. For example, China already has made it known that it has developed the DF-21D anti-ship missile which some call a “carrier killer.” There aren’t too many countries in that region with aircraft carriers, except the U.S. “The missile is dubbed the ‘carrier killer’ because it can be configured to explode in midair, raining down sharp metal on a deck crowded with planes, ordinance, fuel and sailors,” said East Asia expert Gordon G. Chang. “Its apparent intent is to drive U.S. forces out of East Asia.” In one 2010 publication, Jinping told senior officers and colonels to relish combat – “hand-to-hand fight with the U.S.” It’s a strange comment, given that Jinping has spoken about how economic relations between the two countries will minimize any military confrontation. Given these belligerent tendencies on Beijing’s part, the concern over its participation in RIMPAC, which also includes U.S. allies and friends in the region, is that it will learn strategies and ultimately develop countermeasures.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 02:57:08 +0000
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