ANSWERS: CHINA MILITARY EXPANSION CANNOT BE CREDITED TO NMD

CHINA WILL UPGRADE ITS NUCLEAR FORCES WITH OR WITHOUT NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE

Steven Mufson, Washington Post Staff Writer, The Washington Post September 5, 1999SECTION: A SECTION; Pg. A06 HEADLINE: Korean Missiles Push U.S. Defense Plans; Some Fear Buildup Could Hurt Stability // lnu-acs

Not everyone agrees. "That missile defense leads to Chinese missile development is a specious argument. The Chinese were going to do it anyway," said James Lilley, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former U.S. ambassador to China.

China's recent announcements that it had tested a new long-range missile and that it possessed a neutron bomb have added to the drumbeat in Congress for missile defense, say congressional supporters. China has been updating its missiles so that they carry multiple warheads.

CHINA’S STRATEGIC WEAPONS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MODERNIZING SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE ABSENCE OF NMD

BAKER SPRING, Research Fellow The Heritage Foundation, July 13, 2000 MYTHS ABOUT MISSILE DEFENSE AND THE ARMS RACE No. 1385 http://www.heritage.org/library/backgrounder/bg1385.html //VT2002acsln

Myth #4: China's strategic missile modernization program is motivated by a U.S. national missile defense decision.

Reality: China embarked on its strategic weapons modernization program in the 1980s, when the United States was strictly adhering to the ABM Treaty prohibiting an NMD.

NMD SYSTEM IS NOT THE REASON CHINA WILL MODERNIZE ITS STRATEGIC WEAPONS

BAKER SPRING, Research Fellow The Heritage Foundation, July 13, 2000 MYTHS ABOUT MISSILE DEFENSE AND THE ARMS RACE No. 1385 http://www.heritage.org/library/backgrounder/bg1385.html //VT2002acsln

Clearly, China was motivated to acquire and improve its strategic missile force for reasons other than a possible deployment of an American missile defense system. It is likely to continue its efforts to modernize its forces regardless of Washington's decision to deploy a national missile defense system.

CHINESE SHOWCASED MISSILE DEFENSE CAPABILITIES IN THEIR 50^TH ANNIVERSARY PARADE

Eric Watkins, international relations analyst based in London, The San Diego Union-Tribune, October 21, 1999, SECTION: NEWS Pg. A-37 HEADLINE: Russians say U.S. anti-ballistic centerpiece undermines ABM treaty // ln-10-29-99-acs

While complaining about the U.S. test, though, perhaps the Russians simply did not know that the Chinese displayed a new missile in their parade, a missile they described as "able to simultaneously intercept several missiles."

Sounds like an ABM. Perhaps the Russians simply missed the parade.