US alters defense policy
- Source: Global Times
- [03:22 February 02 2010]
- Comments
The previous review under the Bush administration in 2006 was known for its arro-gant tone, while the latest one is likely to underscore cooperation with Beijing, despite its disguised hostility toward Beijing, a Beijing-based military strategist, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Global Times.
CNN said that the 2010 review still stresses the threat from China, but will look at the need to defend against a growing threat of cyber attacks – without directly tying China to past cyber attacks, according to Pentagon officials – and China's focus on preemptively striking and crippling an adversary ahead of a large attack.
Alluding to China in his cover letter, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates cites longer-term threats such as "the military modernization programs of other countries," Bloomberg reported Monday.
It added that the US military is drawing up a new air-sea battle plan in response to such threats, which would combine the strengths of each service to conduct long-range strikes.
"Defense is vital as China and the US are far from being allies," said Zhao Xiaozhuo, a researcher with the World Military Department at the People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Science.
The review also calls for "a more widely distributed" and flexible US presence in Asia that relies more on allies. Partners would include Australia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
The US government has long tried to shift its military focus from the Atlantic to the Pacific, especially the western Pacific, and build a bloc with its Asian allies to form an Asia-based "NATO," Meng Xiangqing said.
"The US' closer ties with its Asian allies could help build a ring of encirclement to deter China," Meng noted.
The review also, for the first time, identifies global warming as a potential trigger of instability and urges the military to renew efforts to reduce its independence on oil.
Besides future threats, the review places top priority on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and against terrorist threats elsewhere.
According to Pentagon officials, Gates will be asking for $708 billion in 2011, including funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – $44 billion more than the 2010 budget of $664 billion, which was also announced Monday.
Qiu Wei and Guo Qiang contributed to this story.
