Wolfowitz: China Future Superpower
United Press International. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON -- China is "almost certain" to become a superpower this century and could emerge as a threat to the United States, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said.
"I would say overall we're concerned about the direction of Chinese policy, and the developments we see there," Wolfowitz said in an interview published in Wednesday's edition of The Washington Times.
"I think the right way to think about China is that it's a country that is almost certain to become a superpower in the next half-century, and maybe in the next quarter-century, and that's pretty fast by historical standards."
"I don't think China has to be a threat, but I think if we're complacent, then we could actually contribute to the opposite effect," Wolfowitz told the newspaper.
The deputy defense secretary said he is concerned China might miscalculate by underestimating the U.S. resolve to defend Taiwan from being taken by force.
"We can more than adequately back up the commitments that are enshrined in the Taiwan Relations Act and which the president affirmed," Wolfowitz said. "So the Chinese would be making a great mistake if they thought they could settle this thing on their terms by using force."
Wolfowitz, a former ambassador to Indonesia who is considered the Bush administration's most experienced Asia hand, said President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have been "very clear" that the United States will defend Taiwan from Chinese attack.
"Indeed, I think the country as a whole is united on that," he said.
Wolfowitz said the continuing buildup of short-range missiles opposite Taiwan violates Beijing's pledge to resolve the standoff with the island peacefully. "I also don't believe that that effort at intimidation will ultimately succeed," he said.
