China's military buildup

This is a very important issue:

China has retained its long-standing focus on rival Taiwan but years of double-digit growth in arms spending and new missiles, ships and aircraft meant it could project power further afield, the 2006 China Military Power Report said.

"The pace and scope of China's military build-up already place regional military balances at risk," the 58-page report said.

It said China has deployed some 710-790 short-range ballistic missiles opposite Taiwan -- up from the estimated 650-730 such missiles in the 2005 report. And Taipei's defense spending has declined, shifting the Taiwan Strait military balance in China's favor, the Pentagon analysis said.

China, which has claimed Taiwan as its own since 1949, has vowed to attack the self-ruled democratic island if it formally declares independence. The United States is obliged by law to help Taiwan defend itself.

That cannot be good. I emphasized that last sentance because it is important to know that if China does invade TW, the U.S. will not go against China to defend Taiwan because China has more money than Taiwan.

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Technorati tags: china, taiwan, military, spending, cool