US -'Concern' about China's anti-carrier ballistic missiles, improving subs

Adm. Timothy Keating, the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, presented a more sober assessment of China than he did in previous budget testimony, an indication that U.S. military views on China are hardening.

Keating, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, told the House Armed Services Committee that U.S. military relations with China are "uneven and a cause of some concern but not worry."

It was the first time a senior military officer acknowledged that U.S.-China military relations were not making progress, despite an aggressive exchange program over the past six years that has included high-level visits by military leaders and defense officials.

Does anyone thing kunbaya visits will change national priorities? What idiot thought this would accomplish anything?

Keating said he is worried by China's development of anti-access and area denial weapons.

The Pentagon disclosed for the first time earlier this month that China has deployed ballistic missiles capable of targeting U.S. aircraft carriers, a capability China's military did not have in the past.

"We have expressed our concern to the Chinese; we asked them to explain to us their intentions and they choose not to," he said.

Please tell us why you built these bad toys? Do you want to hurt us?
You have to be kidding.

Greater transparency by China is no longer a sufficient goal, he noted. "It is easy enough to see what they have, the weapons they're fielding, the systems that they are building and the training that they're conducting," Keating said.

"When we ask them as to the why they would want to develop air-denial weapons in that seems to us inconsistent with China's stated goal of a peaceful rise and harmonious integration, we don't get much in the way of a discourse. So the saw isn't cutting both ways."

I'm trying to imagine how stupid they must think we are.
Why don't we just say... look fellas, if you are building a bunch of weapons to deny us the area via first strike on our carrier fleet against the day you take out Taiwan, then all you will do is spur us to to task 3-5 submarines to take out your first strike weapons via pre-emption if things get too hot. Why would you want to destabilize things that much? Missile-sub patrols will commence as soon as your weapons reach operational status, since you can deploy them rapidly.

Keating said he favors continued engagement. "We don't think there is anything to be gained by trying to cordon them off or fence them off into a corner," he said.

"That said, we think there has to be more reciprocity and a better understanding of their intentions before we are going to make the progress that we think is important," he said.

Kumbaya, mlord, kumbaya....

Keating also expressed concern over China's cyber attacks. "There have been attacks, to be sure, or intrusions, some we think from China," he said, noting that it is not clear whether or not the attacks are state-sponsored.

Chinese submarines, 65 total including two ballistic missile subs, are "good and getting better," Keating said.

"And we spent a modest amount of time and treasure, if you will, in tracking them. We aren't bad at that. There are times when there are Chinese submarines under way. And I can't tell you exactly where they are, but ... we're not devoting every measure we have. We could follow them if we needed to.

Why do we have the largest attack sub fleet, then? That attitude is how a Song class sub got a few thousand yards from our carriers during exercises, and popped up in their wake in a perfect spot to fire missiles which would have been too close to counter effectively. If we aren't going to use our assets effectively, or for good reason, retire them and and save the money.

Here are some facts from the Federation of American Scientists...

Continue reading US -'Concern' about China's anti-carrier ballistic missiles, improving subs.