From: "China Reform Monitor"
To:
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:00 PM
Subject: China Reform Monitor No. 540
> China Reform Monitor No. 540, April 26, 2004
> American Foreign Policy Council, Washington, DC
>
http://www.afpc.org
>
> Editor: Al Santoli
> Associate Editors: Miki Scheidel, Lisa-Marie Shanks
>
> CHINESE MILITARY DEMONSTRATES NEW LASER ATTACK SYSTEMS;
> NEW CHINESE NANO-SATELLITES ESCALATE ARMS-RACE IN SPACE
>
>
> March 29:
>
> In a surprise to Western defense experts, new Chinese Type-98 tanks and
amphibious fighting vehicles are now equipped with a sophisticated
high-powered laser, which dramatically increases the vehicle's defensive and
offensive capabilities, reports Sinodefence.com. The locally-designed system
includes a laser receiver that warns a crew that their tank is being
illuminated by an opponent's guidance laser. The tank then traverses toward
the enemy threat. Immediately, the Chinese laser strikes into the incoming
targeting beam, and at a range of up to 5,000 feet, disables the guidance
optics of the enemy weapon and/or permanently damages the enemy gunner's
eyesight. In addition, the laser weapon can be elevated to defend against
attack helicopters.
>
> April 6:
>
> The Czech Republic has agreed to sell China high-technology radars despite
objections from the United States and the European Union, reports
East-Asia-Intel.com. Last week, Prague agreed to sell Beijing 10 Vera radar
worth $55.5 million, according to the Czech news agency CTK. The Vera radar
system has the capability of detecting radar-evading stealth aircraft.
>
> East-Asia-Intel.com, also reports that China's military recently conducted
a variety of military exercises, including submarine maneuvers, according to
U.S. officials. In late February a submarine squadron and a group of
destroyer escorts conducted mock attacks in the South China Sea. In March,
the North Sea Fleet conducted tracking and anti-tracking war games that
simulated defending against four attack aircraft. Another submarine exercise
involved "long distance deep-sea" operations, including effective disguise
tactics, and effective joint-operation information coordination with air-
and land-based military networks.
>
> April 22:
>
> China successfully launched two new miniature "nano" satellites indicating
Beijing's technological leap forward in a new global arms race, writes
Charles Smith in Newsmax.com. The official Chinese press, such as the Xinhua
news agency describes the satellites as "a major technological
breakthrough," although simply "designed for high-tech experiments."
However, U.S. defense analysts feel that the new PRC mini-satellites are a
prototype for space-based war. According to Richard Fisher, of the
Washington-based Center for Security Policy, "China will use micro and
nano-sats for a range of missions, surveillance, reconnaissance,
communication and for destroying enemy satellites. Their size makes them
difficult, if not impossible, to detect and either avoid or shoot down."
>
> Fisher noted that the PLA space program is geared toward global military
operations. "China is developing three new mobile, solid-fueled space launch
vehicles especially for launching micro and nano-sats. The first to be fully
tested in 2003 was the KT-1, a four-stage rocket based on the DF-21 MRBM
(Medium Range Ballistic Missile). The KT-2 will be based on the DF-31 ICBM
(Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile) and the KT-2A, on the DF-31A ICBM. The
latter two will target geosynchronous and polar orbits, where many sensitive
U.S. military satellites reside." China launched its first 50kg micro
satellite in 2000. With this week's nano-sat launching, China has mastered
this "transformational technology," concluded Fisher.
>
> Pentagon experts say the threat to U.S. satellites already exists, Newsmax
observes. Military sources confirmed a recent report that Iraq attempted to
disrupt U.S. satellites. Signals transmitted from the Iraqi embassy in Cuba
[Editor: where China has major high-tech communications facilities] jammed
American communications satellite traffic during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
According to Pentagon sources, U.S. military satellites have suffered a
number of attacks by ground based laser systems. Pentagon officials refused
to identify the sources of the laser "dazzle" attacks. The growing number of
attacks on U.S. satellite is matched by an increase in space-based assets
designed for use against America being offered for export by Russia and
China. Beijing is helping North Korea, Pakistan and Iran to develop their
own military targeting satellites or space launch programs.
