Agence France-Presse,
London (AFP): China's rapid beefing up of its military might should give it the edge over Taiwan for the first time by 2010, Jane's Defence Weekly said Tuesday. China announced last month a 17.8-percent rise in military spending to 45 billion dollars for this year — a boost aimed at making its forces capable of a quick, decisive invasion of Taiwan while deterring US intervention, the authoritative magazine said.
“China is working hard to transform its Vietnam War-era defence establishment into a credible regional military power with a new generation of indigenous equipment, designed to thwart more advanced adversaries,” said Jane's.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is now shifting into a high gear, through continuing to import Russian weapons, improving training and increasing its professionalism, it added.
“The centrepiece of this offensive capability is the PLA's potent missile force with the modernisation drive likely to allow the PLA to gain the upper hand in the military balance against Taiwan for the first time by the end of this decade,” the magazine said.
Tensions between Taiwan and China have escalated in recent years. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to invade the island should it declare formal independence.
China's air force, navy and strategic missile forces head the queue in equipment funding priorities, while the once-dominant ground forces lag well behind, Jane's said.
While Chinese defence chiefs worry about the United States deepening its security ties with regional allies, the PLA is strengthening its links with Russia through arms sales and military exercises, said Jane's.
“Chinese acquisitions of Russian arms have also continued, with the next significant deal in the pipeline the Chinese acquisition of Sukhoi Su-33 multi-role fighter aircraft: a carrier version of the Su-27 fighter,” it said.
“The two sides are reportedly in advanced negotiations over the deal and there is speculation that the PLA Naval Air Force is considering establishing a combat air wing to be deployed on a future aircraft carrier.
“The two countries are holding a second bilateral military exercise in Russia in July, in which China will reportedly send its F-10 fighter aircraft to participate for the first time.”
Jane's added that the PLA Air Force was modernising its “aging” frontline arsenal as new generations of combat, surveillance and airborne early warning and command aircraft roll off the production lines from China's revitalised aviation industry.
